used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
addressingverbUS /əˈdresɪŋ/
-ing form of “address” — speak to
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
move towards
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
concoursenounUS /ˈkɑːnkɔːrs/
a large gathering of people
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
congregationnounUS /ˌkɑːŋɡrəˈɡeɪʃən/
a group of people who adhere to a common faith and habitually attend a given church
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
in a serious manner
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading They were surrounding a rough platform raised to the height of their heads.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading They were surrounding a rough platform raised to the height of their heads.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
the act of retaining something
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
held up in the air
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading They were surrounding a rough platform raised to the height of their heads.
having a point
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading They were surrounding a rough platform raised to the height of their heads.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
reinedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “rein” — control and direct with or as if by reins
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading They were surrounding a rough platform raised to the height of their heads.
cut with a saw
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading They were surrounding a rough platform raised to the height of their heads.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were surrounding a rough platform raised to the height of their heads.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were surrounding a rough platform raised to the height of their heads.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
in the direction of
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were surrounding a rough platform raised to the height of their heads.
at the time that
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
in or at the place that
From this reading She pointed to a spot a short distance from where she had reined in her horse, when we saw spread out before us a large concourse of people.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
which person or people
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On it stood a man, who, with arms stretched out, one hand holding a book, from which he occasionally read, and the other at times lifted towards heaven, was earnestly addressing them.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading She had at that instant turned the corner of a wood.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The words did not reach us; but so absorbed were the congregation in them, that for some time our approach was not observed.
