used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
abysmaladjectiveUS /əˈbɪzməl/
very great; limitless
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
after-glow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
(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 "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
ancientsnounUS /ˈeɪntʃənts/
people who lived in times long past (especially during the historical period before the fall of the Roman Empire in western Europe)
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
a young female
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
a narrow way or road
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
most important element
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
not any; not one
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
nourishmentnounUS /ˈnɜːrɪʃmənt/
a source of materials to nourish the body
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
on the contrary
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
respondedverbUS /rɪˈspɑːndɪd/
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
shadowingnounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ.ɪŋ/
An advanced language learning technique where a student repeats speech immediately after hearing it.
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
term of address for a man
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
in the near future
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
transformedadjectiveUS /trænˈsfɔːrmd/
given a completely different form or appearance
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
trelliswork
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
precisely as stated
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Now, kind sir," the child said, pointing to a narrow lane opening upon the main road, "I have to go this way."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
at the time that
From this reading The village was very dark when It[=o] reached it; for the sun had set, and the after-glow made no twilight in the shadowing of the trees.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the girl soon stopped before a small gate, dimly visible in the gloom,--a gate of trelliswork, beyond which the lights of a dwelling could be seen.
which person or people
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading "_The ancients who had the nourishment of the world wished for nothing, and the world had enough:--they did nothing, and all things were transformed:--their stillness was abysmal, and the people were all composed._"] * * * * * ...
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Permit me, then, to see you home," It[=o] responded; and he turned into the lane with her, feeling rather than seeing his way.
