used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And come, for Love is of the valley, come, For Love is of the valley, come thou down!
BINDON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
cedarnounUS /ˈsiːdər/
any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Come down ... from yonder mountain heights.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Come down ... from yonder mountain heights.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And come, for Love is of the valley, come, For Love is of the valley, come thou down!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Come down ... from yonder mountain heights.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
brought together in one place
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
grazingnounUS /ˈɡreɪzɪŋ/
the act of grazing
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading Come down ... from yonder mountain heights.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And come, for Love is of the valley, come, For Love is of the valley, come thou down!
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading And come, for Love is of the valley, come, For Love is of the valley, come thou down!
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
MerlinnounUS /ˈmɜːrlɪn/
(Arthurian legend) the magician who acted as King Arthur's advisor
From this reading —TENNYSON (_Merlin and Vivien_).
motleynounUS /ˈmɑːtli/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Come down ... from yonder mountain heights.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And come, for Love is of the valley, come, For Love is of the valley, come thou down!
(of games) engaged in
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
slandernounUS /ˈslændər/
words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
sprightlyadjectiveUS /ˈspraɪtli/
full of spirit and vitality
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
TENNYSONnounUS /ˈtenɪsən/
Englishman and Victorian poet (1809-1892)
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
terracedverbUS /ˈterəst/
past form of “terrace” — provide (a house) with a terrace
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And come, for Love is of the valley, come, For Love is of the valley, come thou down!
in or at that place or location
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading And come, for Love is of the valley, come, For Love is of the valley, come thou down!
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 In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading And come, for Love is of the valley, come, For Love is of the valley, come thou down!
venom'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
Vivien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading —TENNYSON (_Merlin and Vivien_).
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the terraced gardens, under the spreading shadows of the cedar trees, was gathered a motley group.
in the company of; together with
From this reading TENNYSON (_The Princess._) THE LITTLE MASTER OF BINDON She played about with slight and sprightly talk, And vivid smiles, and faintly venom’d points Of slander, glancing here and grazing there.
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading Come down ... from yonder mountain heights.
