used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading This done, the old man passed his arm across his damp forehead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading This done, the old man passed his arm across his damp forehead.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
bin-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
the lower side of anything
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Now we can easily lift the coffin," said North.
Candlishes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
casketnounUS /ˈkæskət/
box in which a corpse is buried or cremated
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
coffinnounUS /ˈkɔːfɪn/
box in which a corpse is buried or cremated
From this reading "Now we can easily lift the coffin," said North.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading This done, the old man passed his arm across his damp forehead.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading "Mind me having a pipe, doctor?" he said uneasily.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading This done, the old man passed his arm across his damp forehead.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading "Now we can easily lift the coffin," said North.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading This done, the old man passed his arm across his damp forehead.
generationnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading "Mind me having a pipe, doctor?" he said uneasily.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This done, the old man passed his arm across his damp forehead.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading "Now we can easily lift the coffin," said North.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading This done, the old man passed his arm across his damp forehead.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Mind me having a pipe, doctor?" he said uneasily.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading "Mind me having a pipe, doctor?" he said uneasily.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
nichesnounUS /ˈnɪtʃɪz/
plural of “niche” — a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading "Now we can easily lift the coffin," said North.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now we can easily lift the coffin," said North.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Over yonder--out of the way."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading This done, the old man passed his arm across his damp forehead.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
on one occasion
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Over yonder--out of the way."
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Over yonder--out of the way."
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading This done, the old man passed his arm across his damp forehead.
passed-away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading "Mind me having a pipe, doctor?" he said uneasily.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Now we can easily lift the coffin," said North.
sextonnounUS /ˈsekstən/
United States poet (1928-1974)
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Now we can easily lift the coffin," said North.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This done, the old man passed his arm across his damp forehead.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
uneasilyadverbUS /əˈniːzəli/
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading "Mind me having a pipe, doctor?" he said uneasily.
communicated in words
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Over yonder--out of the way."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Now we can easily lift the coffin," said North.
in or at the place that
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading The sexton uttered a low whistle, as he once more obeyed, taking the bottom handle of the massive casket, and it was placed on one side close to where a generation or two of the passed-away Candlishes lay in their bin-like niches.
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading "Over yonder--out of the way."
