Chapter XII

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

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

affected manners intended to impress others

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

(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 There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

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

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

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

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

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

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

a United States youth subculture of the 1950s; rejected possessions or regular work or traditional dress; for communal living and psychedelic drugs and anarchism; favored modern forms of jazz (e.g., bebop)

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

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

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

a digestive juice secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder; aids in the digestion of fats

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

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

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

exercising caution or showing care or attention

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

an upholstered seat for more than one person

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

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

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

of or belonging to or active during the day

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

plural of “draw” — a gully that is shallower than a ravine

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

plural of “fancy” — something many people believe that is false

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

any material that fills a space or container

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

nervous and unable to relax

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

plural of “fruit” — the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

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 Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

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

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

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

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles mingled with the fur

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

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

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

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

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

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

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

conformity or harmony

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

engage in

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

suggesting an unhealthy mental state

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

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

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

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

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

an uneasy psychological state

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

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

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

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

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

belonging to or active during the night

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

third-person singular of “perform” — carry out or perform an action

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

plural of “phantom” — a ghostly appearing figure

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

plural of “pickle” — vegetables (especially cucumbers) preserved in brine or vinegar

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

with planning and intention

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

fruit preserved by cooking with sugar

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

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

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

without profit or reward

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

peculiarly fortunate or appropriate; as if by divine intervention

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

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

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

cause to become

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

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

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

shaken into waves or undulations as by wind

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

in disarray; extremely disorderly

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

the state of being asleep

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

plural of “smooth” — the act of smoothing

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

look at with fixed eyes

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

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

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

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

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

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

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

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

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

-ing form of “torment” — torment emotionally or mentally

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

a cruel and oppressive dictator

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

void of intelligence or thought

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

to no avail

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

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

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

plural of “vigil” — a period of sleeplessness

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

(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 The careful Betty the pillow beats, And airs the blankets, and smooths the sheets, And gives the mattress a shaking-- But vainly Betty performs her part, If a ruffled head and a rumpled heart, As well as the couch, want making.

at the time that

From this reading And oh! when the blessed diurnal light Is quench’d by the providential night, To render our slumber more certain!

in or at the place that

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

which person or people

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Wide awake as the mousing owl, Night-hawk, or other nocturnal fowl,-- But more profitless vigils keeping,-- Wide awake in the dark they stare, Filling with phantoms the vacant air, As if that Crook-back’d Tyrant Care Had plotted to kill them sleeping.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.

of very poor quality or condition

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

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

From this reading Pity, pity the wretches that weep, For they must be wretched, who cannot sleep When God himself draws the curtain!

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading There’s Morbid, all bile, and verjuice, and nerves, Where other people would make preserves, He turns his fruits into pickles: Jealous, envious, and fretful by day, At night, to his own sharp fancies a prey, He lies like a hedgehog roll’d up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.