Chapter III · The Musicians of Bremen

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading “My knees are not at all weak.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading It’s only the position I am lying in that makes them feel queer.”

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “My knees are not at all weak.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

manner of acting or controlling yourself

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading It’s only the position I am lying in that makes them feel queer.”

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

the act of giving

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading It’s only the position I am lying in that makes them feel queer.”

an iconic mental representation

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It’s only the position I am lying in that makes them feel queer.”

characterized by jokes and good humor

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading “My knees are not at all weak.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading It’s only the position I am lying in that makes them feel queer.”

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading It’s only the position I am lying in that makes them feel queer.”

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

a particular point in time

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “My knees are not at all weak.

a city in northeastern France in Lorraine

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

having or showing only one eye

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

and nothing more

From this reading It’s only the position I am lying in that makes them feel queer.”

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

breathing heavily (as after exertion)

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

by chance

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading It’s only the position I am lying in that makes them feel queer.”

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading It’s only the position I am lying in that makes them feel queer.”

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

incapable of or resistant to bending

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

with sternness; in a severe manner

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It’s only the position I am lying in that makes them feel queer.”

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

in spite of the fact that

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

a shaky motion

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

plural of “tremor” — an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

precisely as stated

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Nancy could not keep from trembling slightly as she heard the car panting at a little distance and realized that perhaps a moment of real danger was near, in spite of their joking.

wanting in physical strength

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind:

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading A sound as though a heavy foot had been placed on the step outside was heard and then a voice which Billie recognized as that of the one-eyed man said:

during the time that

From this reading Elinor, too, felt very much like giving away to a few tremors, but she reproached herself for such weak behavior and held her body as rigid as a stone image while she said sternly in her mind: