used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
adventnounUS /ˈædvent/
arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
alenounUS /eɪl/
a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast; in some of the United States an ale is (by law) a brew of more than 4% alcohol by volume
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
(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 In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
Ay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
BabenounUS /beɪb/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
babesnounUS /beɪbz/
plural of “babe” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
barrelsnounUS /ˈbærəlz/
the amount that many barrels might hold
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
brought into existence
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
botargoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
bullocksnounUS /ˈbʊləks/
plural of “bullock” — young bull
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
cargoesnounUS /ˈkɑːrɡoʊz/
plural of “cargo” — goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading It shook the next heir In his library chair, And made him cry, “Confound her!”
ConfoundverbUS /kɑːnˈfaʊnd/
be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly
From this reading It shook the next heir In his library chair, And made him cry, “Confound her!”
crack'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading It shook the next heir In his library chair, And made him cry, “Confound her!”
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
dearthnounUS /dɜːrθ/
an acute insufficiency
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
take in liquids
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
dropp'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
fablenounUS /ˈfeɪbəl/
a deliberately false or improbable account
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
Fifty-thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
furnish'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
Gildings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
Glendower's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
GrecianadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːʃən/
of or relating to or characteristic of Greece or the Greeks or the Greek language
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
heirnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading It shook the next heir In his library chair, And made him cry, “Confound her!”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It shook the next heir In his library chair, And made him cry, “Confound her!”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It shook the next heir In his library chair, And made him cry, “Confound her!”
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
infant'snounUS /ˈɪnfənts/
possessive form of “infant” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
knock'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
a room where books are kept
From this reading It shook the next heir In his library chair, And made him cry, “Confound her!”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
loadsnounUS /loʊdz/
a large number or amount
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
mushroomnounUS /ˈmʌʃruːm/
common name for an edible agaric (contrasting with the inedible toadstool)
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading It shook the next heir In his library chair, And made him cry, “Confound her!”
not any; not one
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
omensnounUS /ˈoʊmənz/
plural of “omen” — a sign of something about to happen
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
on one occasion
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
or-molu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
OwennounUS /ˈoʊən/
Welsh industrialist and social reformer who founded cooperative communities (1771-1858)
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
pealnounUS /piːl/
a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
PoundernounUS /ˈpaʊndər/
(used only in combination) something weighing a given number of pounds
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
Rabelaisnoun
author of satirical attacks on medieval scholasticism (1494-1553)
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
repastnoun
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
scalenounUS /skeɪl/
an ordered reference standard
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
scantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
shabbilyadverb
so as to appear worn and threadbare or dilapidated
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading It shook the next heir In his library chair, And made him cry, “Confound her!”
the display of a motion picture
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
spawnverbUS /spɑːn/
call forth
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
SpearnounUS /spɪr/
a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
squallverbUS /skwɔːl/
make high-pitched, whiney noises
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
dependable
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
TablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
teamnounUS /tiːm/
a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
time-piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
twas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading In no time at all, like mushroom spawn, Tables sprang up all over the lawn; Not furnish’d scantly or shabbily, But on scale as vast As that huge repast, With its loads and cargoes Of drink and botargoes, At the birth of the Babe in Rabelais.
village-bells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
village-steeple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of signs and omens there was no dearth, Any more than at Owen Glendower’s birth, Or the advent of other great people: Two bullocks dropp’d dead, As if knock’d on the head, And barrels of stout And ale ran about, And the village-bells such a peal rang out, That they crack’d the village-steeple.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Like other babes, at her birth she cried; Which made a sensation far and wide-- Ay, for twenty miles around her: For though to the ear ’twas nothing more Than an infant’s squall, it was really the roar Of a Fifty-thousand Pounder!
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading She was born exactly at half-past two, As witnessed a time-piece in or-molu That stood on a marble table-- Showing at once the time of day, And a team of _Gildings_ running away As fast as they were able, With a golden God, with a golden Star, And a golden Spear, in a golden Car, According to Grecian fable.
