used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
afireadjectiveUS /əˈfaɪr/
lighted up by or as by fire or flame
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Gossip always spread through the town like wildfire.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
BarkernounUS /ˈbɑːrkər/
someone who stands in front of a show (as at a carnival) and gives a loud colorful sales talk to potential customers
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
for the reason that
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
billiard-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
Brackett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
buzzingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌzɪŋ/
noisy like the sound of a bee
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
an occurrence of something
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
chapsnounUS /tʃæps/
plural of “chap” — a boy or man
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
declareverbUS /dɪˈkler/
state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
defendverbUS /dɪˈfend/
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
Ellis's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading What one man knew in Mayville was every man’s property.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
start firing a weapon
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
the act of departing
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
GossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading Gossip always spread through the town like wildfire.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What one man knew in Mayville was every man’s property.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading What one man knew in Mayville was every man’s property.
LemnounUS /lem/
a spacecraft that carries astronauts from the command module to the surface of the moon and back
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Gossip always spread through the town like wildfire.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading What one man knew in Mayville was every man’s property.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading What one man knew in Mayville was every man’s property.
Mayville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What one man knew in Mayville was every man’s property.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
not any; not one
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading What one man knew in Mayville was every man’s property.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
From this reading What one man knew in Mayville was every man’s property.
pumpverbUS /pʌmp/
operate like a pump; move up and down, like a handle or a pedal
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
cut with a saw
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
express in words
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
Southport
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
SpraynounUS /spreɪ/
a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Gossip always spread through the town like wildfire.
young nobleman attendant on a knight
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
StevensnounUS /ˈstiːvənz/
United States psychologist and psychophysicist who proposed Stevens' power law to replace Fechner's law (1906-1973)
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
carry out
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gossip always spread through the town like wildfire.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I hear as how Squire Barker is going to defend them, but they do say he’s got no case, because I heard Lem Stevens say as he heard Squire Brackett declare he saw them young chaps down in the billiard-room of the hotel along about midnight, and the fire started pretty quick after that.”
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Gossip always spread through the town like wildfire.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/
plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Gossip always spread through the town like wildfire.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
waggingverbUS /ˈwæɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “wag” — move from side to side
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What one man knew in Mayville was every man’s property.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What one man knew in Mayville was every man’s property.
which person or people
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading So it happened that on the morning of the arrival of the _Nancy Jane_ and the _Spray_ there was a buzzing and a shaking of heads and a wagging of tongues; and before long the whole town knew that something of vast importance was about to take place up at Squire Ellis’s court.
wildfirenounUS /ˈwaɪldfaɪər/
a raging and rapidly spreading conflagration
From this reading Gossip always spread through the town like wildfire.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “It’s those young fellows that set the hotel afire over across at Southport,” said a certain tall, gaunt individual, who happened to be the centre of an excited group on one of the street corners, near the town pump.
