used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading So waving my hand and laughing, I rode off and left her alone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
completely unclothed
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She may perchance be lonely.’
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
bottlesnounUS /ˈbɑːtəlz/
plural of “bottle” — a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
CanarynounUS /kəˈneri/
someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
coatsnounUS /koʊts/
plural of “coat” — an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
drawbridgenounUS /ˈdrɔːbrɪdʒ/
a bridge that can be raised to block passage or to allow boats or ships to pass beneath it
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
Gib-cat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
Grieve's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
grindingnounUS /ˈɡraɪndɪŋ/
material resulting from the process of grinding
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading So waving my hand and laughing, I rode off and left her alone.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
kilted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
laggedverbUS /læɡd/
inflected form of “lag” — hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
landwardadverbUS /ˈlændwərd/
toward land
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
lassnounUS /læs/
a girl or young woman who is unmarried
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading So waving my hand and laughing, I rode off and left her alone.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading So waving my hand and laughing, I rode off and left her alone.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading She may perchance be lonely.’
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She may perchance be lonely.’
reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading So waving my hand and laughing, I rode off and left her alone.
Nell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading So waving my hand and laughing, I rode off and left her alone.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
perchanceadverbUS /pərˈtʃæns/
through chance
From this reading She may perchance be lonely.’
the event of something being raised upward
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading So waving my hand and laughing, I rode off and left her alone.
express in words
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She may perchance be lonely.’
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
term of address for a man
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
in or at that place or location
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading So waving my hand and laughing, I rode off and left her alone.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
belonging to which person
From this reading I lagged a little behind Sir Thomas, so that I could say to Nell, whose spirits were somewhat dashed by the raising of the bridge, ’Step down to the water side and bring up the three bottles of Canary, or go over to the farm and keep the Grieve’s lass company.
in the company of; together with
From this reading So there I had Mistress Nell on the landward side of the drawbridge and the gate up, with the snow dancing down on her bare head and her coats kilted for mischief.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The bridge went grinding up, and therefore the Gib-cat would immediately, as I knew, stretch himself for a sleep by the fire.
