used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
(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 But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So it was at West Inch.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
dashverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
ditchnounUS /dɪtʃ/
a long narrow excavation in the earth
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
floatverbUS /floʊt/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading THE GATHERING OF THE NATIONS.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
InchnounUS /ɪntʃ/
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading So it was at West Inch.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
lazyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪzi/
moving slowly and gently
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
NATIONSnounUS /ˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading THE GATHERING OF THE NATIONS.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GATHERING OF THE NATIONS.
orderlynounUS /ˈɔːrdərli/
a soldier who serves as an attendant to a superior officer
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
paddocknounUS /ˈpædək/
pen where racehorses are saddled and paraded before a race
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So it was at West Inch.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
swirlverbUS /swɜːrl/
turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GATHERING OF THE NATIONS.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
precisely as stated
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So it was at West Inch.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
weeadjectiveUS /wiː/
(used informally) very small
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading So it was at West Inch.
at the time that
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading And now I come to a bit of my story that clean takes my breath away as I think of it, and makes me wish that I had never taken the job of telling it in hand.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
the words that are spoken
From this reading But now that we were drawn into a larger life, like wee bits of straw that float slowly down some lazy ditch, until they suddenly find themselves in the dash and swirl of a great river; then it is very hard for me with my simple words to keep pace with it all.
produce a literary work
From this reading For when I write I like things to come slow and orderly and in their turn, like sheep coming out of a paddock.
