used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
any thing at all
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
weapons considered collectively
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
bespeakverbUS /bɪˈspiːk/
be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
bleedverbUS /bliːd/
To lose or emit fluid, or metaphorically to seep magical essence from an enchanted tome.
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
burgnounUS /bɜːrɡ/
colloquial American term for a town
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
a young person of either sex
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
a small house with a single story
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
cowshednoun
a barn for cows
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "But I do not sorrow!" she cried.
DEES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "But I do not sorrow!" she cried.
dreadingverbUS /ˈdredɪŋ/
-ing form of “dread” — be afraid or scared of; be frightened of
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
drizzlenounUS /ˈdrɪzəl/
very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
divisible by two
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
foreignersnounUS /ˈfɔːrənərz/
plural of “foreigner” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
glimpsesnounUS /ˈɡlɪmpsɪz/
plural of “glimpse” — a quick look
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
huggedverbUS /hʌɡd/
inflected form of “hug” — hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
hütte
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
imposedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzd/
set forth authoritatively as obligatory
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
Langler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
locksnounUS /lɑːks/
plural of “lock” — a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
not one and not the other of two
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
ragsnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
RomanadjectiveUS /ˈroʊmən/
relating to or characteristic of people of Rome
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
a male human offspring
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
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 STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
express in words
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
up to a particular time
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
moved around an axis or center
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
UndinenounUS /ˈʌndiːn/
any of various female water spirits
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading STORY OF DEES We had never till now even heard of a mother of Dees! so stern a silence must have been imposed by the burg upon the mountain.
(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 "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
in the company of; together with
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading We stood now with her within a hütte, or cowshed, which let in the drizzle, and we had lightning glimpses of a Roman face, and black locks, and proud rags, and of a child whom she called Undine hugged in her powerful arms to her bosom.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes," said the woman to us, "they watched me and the little Undine in my cottage, dreading that I should bespeak the two foreigners, for I fear neither them nor anything--the world knows it."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Tell us, if you can, about your son," Langler said to her, "but not if that pains you, for our hearts bleed for you; we tried our best for him, and our best has turned to your utter sorrow, but you will forgive us, if you can, since we meant well."
