used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
aroused or activated
From this reading The noise made by spurs on the pavement and by the horse at the end of the courtyard had half awakened him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The noise made by spurs on the pavement and by the horse at the end of the courtyard had half awakened him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading The noise made by spurs on the pavement and by the horse at the end of the courtyard had half awakened him.
detachverbUS /ˈdɪtætʃ/
cause to become detached or separated; take off
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
disappearverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/
get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
fixingnounUS /ˈfɪksɪŋ/
the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
flanksnounUS /flæŋks/
plural of “flank” — the side of military or naval formation
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/
spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
a young female
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The noise made by spurs on the pavement and by the horse at the end of the courtyard had half awakened him.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The noise made by spurs on the pavement and by the horse at the end of the courtyard had half awakened him.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He rose, and suspecting some surprise, ran to the shed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
highroadnoun
a highway
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
hurdlenounUS /ˈhɜːrdəl/
a light movable barrier that competitors must leap over in certain races
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
for more time
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The noise made by spurs on the pavement and by the horse at the end of the courtyard had half awakened him.
humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
not any; not one
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The noise made by spurs on the pavement and by the horse at the end of the courtyard had half awakened him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
go across or through
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading The noise made by spurs on the pavement and by the horse at the end of the courtyard had half awakened him.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He rose, and suspecting some surprise, ran to the shed.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading He rose, and suspecting some surprise, ran to the shed.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
cut with a saw
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
sentrynounUS /ˈsentri/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
get rid of
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
the state of being asleep
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading The poor girl remained at the end of the gallery, fixing her eyes on the sleeping sentry, and ready to disappear at the slightest movement.
soldier'snounUS /ˈsoʊldʒərz/
possessive form of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He rose, and suspecting some surprise, ran to the shed.
spurnounUS /spɜːr/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
spursnounUS /spɜːrz/
plural of “spur” — a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading The noise made by spurs on the pavement and by the horse at the end of the courtyard had half awakened him.
stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/
resistant to change of position or condition
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading He rose, and suspecting some surprise, ran to the shed.
suspectingverbUS /səˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “suspect” — imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading He rose, and suspecting some surprise, ran to the shed.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
in or at that place or location
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His horse was no longer there; the marquis, in his haste to escape, had taken the first which came to hand, and this was the soldier's.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young girl saw him run to the shed, hastily detach a horse, pass behind the stable wall, spur his horse in both flanks, tear across the kitchen garden, drive his horse against the hurdle, knock it down, clear it, and reach the highroad across the fields.
