used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
affinitynounUS /əˈfɪnəti/
(immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
equally
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
(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 “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
bindsnounUS /baɪndz/
plural of “bind” — something that hinders as if with bonds
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
budnounUS /bʌd/
a partially opened flower
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
commandsnounUS /kəˈmændz/
plural of “command” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
concealsverbUS /kənˈsiːlz/
third-person singular of “conceal” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
didstauxiliary verbUS /dɪdst/
an old form of “did”, used with “thou”
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
emanating from God
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
opinion or judgment
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
fairiesnounUS /ˈferiz/
plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
set up or found
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
a person of German nationality
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
glow-worm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
in the recent past
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
linkedadjectiveUS /lɪŋkt/
connected by a link, as railway cars or trailer trucks
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
all of the living human inhabitants of the earth
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
the force of workers available
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
mortalsnounUS /ˈmɔːrtəlz/
plural of “mortal” — a human being
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
used to form the superlative
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
of an obscure nature
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
on one occasion
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
express in words
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
try to get or reach
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
an old word for “yours”
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
universenounUS /ˈjuːnəvɜːrs/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
vigilsnounUS /ˈvɪdʒəlz/
plural of “vigil” — a period of sleeplessness
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
violetnounUS /ˈvaɪəlɪt/
any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
look attentively
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
(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 For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading IT was evening; and the fairies were dancing beneath the twilight star.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
in or to any place at all
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
which person or people
From this reading “And most of all,” said the German fairy, “are they who love under our watch; for love is the golden chain that binds all in the universe: love lights up alike the star and the glow-worm; and wherever there is love in men’s lot, lies the secret affinity with men, and with things divine.”
belonging to which person
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “And why art thou sad, my violet?” said the prince; “for thine eyes seek the ground!”
in the company of; together with
From this reading For well didst thou say, my prince, that we are linked with a mysterious affinity to mankind, and whatever is pure and gentle amongst them speaks at once to our sympathy, and commands our vigils.”
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
wormnounUS /wɜːrm/
any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae
From this reading “Now that I have found thee,” answered the queen, “and now that I feel what happy love is to a fairy, I sigh over that love which I have lately witnessed among mortals, but the bud of whose happiness already conceals the worm.
