used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
lacking funds
From this reading At last Mijnheer Gorter broke the ominous silence.
burgomasternounUS /ˈbɜːrɡəmæstər/
a mayor of a municipality in Germany or Holland or Flanders or Austria
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
discoursenounUS /ˈdɪskɔːrs/
extended verbal expression in speech or writing
From this reading “I was very well-pleased with your discourse this morning,” he said.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
Gorter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last Mijnheer Gorter broke the ominous silence.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I was very well-pleased with your discourse this morning,” he said.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I was very well-pleased with your discourse this morning,” he said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
immediately past
From this reading At last Mijnheer Gorter broke the ominous silence.
Mijnheer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last Mijnheer Gorter broke the ominous silence.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “I was very well-pleased with your discourse this morning,” he said.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading At last Mijnheer Gorter broke the ominous silence.
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
peakedadjectiveUS /piːkt/
somewhat ill or prone to illness
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
pigsnounUS /pɪɡz/
plural of “pig” — domestic swine
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
preservingverbUS /prəˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
-ing form of “preserve” — keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
repastnoun
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I was very well-pleased with your discourse this morning,” he said.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
a particular situation
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading At last Mijnheer Gorter broke the ominous silence.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
sphinxnounUS /sfɪŋks/
an inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
not in physical motion
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
stumpedverbUS /stʌmpt/
past form of “stump” — cause to be perplexed or confounded
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I was very well-pleased with your discourse this morning,” he said.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading Then they slowly returned to the house, the farmer still preserving an air of tremendous mystery.
precisely as stated
From this reading “I was very well-pleased with your discourse this morning,” he said.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the end of the repast, a walk in the orchard was proposed.
well-pleased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was very well-pleased with your discourse this morning,” he said.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “I was very well-pleased with your discourse this morning,” he said.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading The burgomaster, pipe in mouth, stumped along in his wooden shoes, solemn and dignified—a sphinx in a peaked cap—beside his guest, and took him to see the pigs.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I was very well-pleased with your discourse this morning,” he said.
