used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Good fairies there are, quite a number; you must decide for yourself which one is the best.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
beldamenoun
an ugly evil-looking old woman
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
for the most part
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
crabbedadjectiveUS /kræbd/
annoyed and irritable
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading Good fairies there are, quite a number; you must decide for yourself which one is the best.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
fairiesnounUS /ˈferiz/
plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading Good fairies there are, quite a number; you must decide for yourself which one is the best.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
goblinsnounUS /ˈɡɑːblɪnz/
plural of “goblin” — (folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Good fairies there are, quite a number; you must decide for yourself which one is the best.
grislyadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪzli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
hordenounUS /hɔːrd/
a vast multitude
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
horridadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəd/
exceedingly bad
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Good fairies there are, quite a number; you must decide for yourself which one is the best.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Good fairies there are, quite a number; you must decide for yourself which one is the best.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Good fairies there are, quite a number; you must decide for yourself which one is the best.
possessing material wealth
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
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 This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
create by training and teaching
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
(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 For crabbed beldame an aunt, who meant well but was rich and used to having her own way, will do fairly well.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Good fairies there are, quite a number; you must decide for yourself which one is the best.
which person or people
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
wisestadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzəst/
superlative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
witchnounUS /wɪtʃ/
a female sorcerer or magician
From this reading There is, for example, a witch, a horrid old creature who tricks the best and wisest of us: Circumstance is one of her many names, and a horde of grisly goblins follow in her train.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading This is not a fairy tale, although you will find some old friends here.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading Good fairies there are, quite a number; you must decide for yourself which one is the best.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading But the tale has chiefly to do with a youth to whom the witch had made one gift, well knowing that one would not be enough.
