used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He caught a glimpse of bright colour through the bars, and stepped smartly forward.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading He caught a glimpse of bright colour through the bars, and stepped smartly forward.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading He caught a glimpse of bright colour through the bars, and stepped smartly forward.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
by-road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Someone was trying to open a wicket which opened from a by-road to the left of him.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He caught a glimpse of bright colour through the bars, and stepped smartly forward.
clinkingadjective
like the light sharp ringing sound of glasses being tapped
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading He caught a glimpse of bright colour through the bars, and stepped smartly forward.
curtsied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading The wicket was easy to open from his side, and he soon released the wayfarer from trouble.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading He caught a glimpse of bright colour through the bars, and stepped smartly forward.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Someone was trying to open a wicket which opened from a by-road to the left of him.
a quick look
From this reading He caught a glimpse of bright colour through the bars, and stepped smartly forward.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Someone was trying to open a wicket which opened from a by-road to the left of him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Someone was trying to open a wicket which opened from a by-road to the left of him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Someone was trying to open a wicket which opened from a by-road to the left of him.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Someone was trying to open a wicket which opened from a by-road to the left of him.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading The wicket was easy to open from his side, and he soon released the wayfarer from trouble.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The wicket was easy to open from his side, and he soon released the wayfarer from trouble.
term of address for a man
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
smartlyadverbUS /ˈsmɑːrtli/
in a clever manner
From this reading He caught a glimpse of bright colour through the bars, and stepped smartly forward.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Someone was trying to open a wicket which opened from a by-road to the left of him.
in the near future
From this reading The wicket was easy to open from his side, and he soon released the wayfarer from trouble.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading He caught a glimpse of bright colour through the bars, and stepped smartly forward.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He caught a glimpse of bright colour through the bars, and stepped smartly forward.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
a source of difficulty
From this reading The wicket was easy to open from his side, and he soon released the wayfarer from trouble.
hard to endure
From this reading Someone was trying to open a wicket which opened from a by-road to the left of him.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
wayfarernoun
a pedestrian who walks from place to place
From this reading The wicket was easy to open from his side, and he soon released the wayfarer from trouble.
at the time that
From this reading He had begun to time his vague thought by the regular swing of the black boat, when his attention was called by a clinking sound.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Someone was trying to open a wicket which opened from a by-road to the left of him.
wicketnounUS /ˈwɪkət/
cricket equipment consisting of a set of three stumps topped by crosspieces; used in playing cricket
From this reading Someone was trying to open a wicket which opened from a by-road to the left of him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading She took one slight pace back, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, sir."
