used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
Arcite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRYDEN'S _Palamon and Arcite_.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
have
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
bestirverb
become active
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
canstmodal verbUS /kænst/
an old form of “can”, used with “thou”
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
DRYDEN'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRYDEN'S _Palamon and Arcite_.
one or the other of two
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
an opposing military force
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
gapnounUS /ɡæp/
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
goryadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːri/
covered with blood
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
hearsverbUS /hiːrz/
third-person singular of “hear” — perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
herdsmannoun
someone who drives a herd
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
huntedadjectiveUS /ˈhʌntəd/
reflecting the fear or terror of one who is hunted
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
kail-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
locksnounUS /lɑːks/
plural of “lock” — a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
MacbethnounUS /məkˈbeθ/
king of Scotland (died in 1057)
From this reading _Macbeth_.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
subject to death
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
an old word for “no”
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
night'snounUS /naɪts/
possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
Palamon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRYDEN'S _Palamon and Arcite_.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
rustlingnounUS /ˈrʌslɪŋ/
the stealing of cattle
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
express in words
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
in or at or to some place
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
spearnounUS /spɪr/
a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
plural of “stand” — a support or foundation
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
Thraciannoun
an inhabitant of ancient Thrace
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading Nay, never shake thy gory locks at me; Thou canst not say I did it!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
wakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
at the time that
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading It was on a fine summer morning, somewhere about four o'clock, when I wakened from my night's rest, and was about thinking to bestir myself, that I heard the sound of voices in the kail-yard stretching south from our back windows.
in the company of; together with
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees; And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight or I.
