used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE GRAVE.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But what was it to her that a mourner should be weeping there?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Her quick steps took her past before she had realized that there was some one who was in great need.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
Gertrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
death of a person
From this reading AT THE GRAVE.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Her quick steps took her past before she had realized that there was some one who was in great need.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But what was it to her that a mourner should be weeping there?
the force of workers available
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
mournernounUS /ˈmɔːrnər/
a person who is feeling grief (as grieving over someone who has died)
From this reading But what was it to her that a mourner should be weeping there?
narroweradjectiveUS /ˈneroʊər/
comparative of “narrow” — not wide
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Her quick steps took her past before she had realized that there was some one who was in great need.
new-madeadjective
newly made
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
being perceived or observed
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Her quick steps took her past before she had realized that there was some one who was in great need.
pathsnounUS /pæðz/
plural of “path” — a course of conduct
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Her quick steps took her past before she had realized that there was some one who was in great need.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Her quick steps took her past before she had realized that there was some one who was in great need.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But what was it to her that a mourner should be weeping there?
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Her quick steps took her past before she had realized that there was some one who was in great need.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE GRAVE.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Her quick steps took her past before she had realized that there was some one who was in great need.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But what was it to her that a mourner should be weeping there?
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Her quick steps took her past before she had realized that there was some one who was in great need.
the topmost one of two
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
precisely as stated
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
showing sorrow
From this reading But what was it to her that a mourner should be weeping there?
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what was it to her that a mourner should be weeping there?
at the time that
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
which person or people
From this reading Her quick steps took her past before she had realized that there was some one who was in great need.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading She walked as fast as she could, taking one of the narrower paths, and was almost within sight of the upper gates when her attention was arrested by a figure crouching over that very new-made grave which she had seen.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading THE autumn afternoon was closing in, and but that Gertrude had noticed some men filling in a new-made grave as she went down, she would have feared that she might find the gates shut.
