used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
in the past
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The other two sides of the square were filled in by the cathedral’s grey walls, and an old gateway.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE TWO FRIENDS AND THE TWO VIGNETTES.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
cathedral's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other two sides of the square were filled in by the cathedral’s grey walls, and an old gateway.
celebratedadjectiveUS /ˈseləbreɪtɪd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
crowsnounUS /kroʊz/
plural of “crow” — black birds having a raucous call
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
crumblingverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
elmsnounUS /elmz/
plural of “elm” — any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
everlastinglyadverb
for a limitless time
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The other two sides of the square were filled in by the cathedral’s grey walls, and an old gateway.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading THE TWO FRIENDS AND THE TWO VIGNETTES.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
gatewaynounUS /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/
an entrance that can be closed by a gate
From this reading The other two sides of the square were filled in by the cathedral’s grey walls, and an old gateway.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
half-a-dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
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 A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
NormannounUS /ˈnɔːrmən/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
pitchedadjectiveUS /pɪtʃt/
(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
poetsnounUS /ˈpoʊəts/
plural of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
SpensernounUS /ˈspensər/
English poet who wrote an allegorical romance celebrating Elizabeth I in the Spenserian stanza (1552-1599)
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
make square
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TWO FRIENDS AND THE TWO VIGNETTES.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
turfnounUS /tɜːrf/
surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE TWO FRIENDS AND THE TWO VIGNETTES.
venerableadjectiveUS /ˈvenərəbəl/
impressive by reason of age
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
VIGNETTESnounUS /vɪˈnjets/
plural of “vignette” — a brief literary description
From this reading THE TWO FRIENDS AND THE TWO VIGNETTES.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
in or at the place that
From this reading The great grey cathedral, with its high pitched towers, and its crumbling walls, threw big dark shadows on the green turf of the college close, where half-a-dozen comfortable houses formed two sides of a square.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the centre grew a clump of venerable elms, the home of a colony of crows which were everlastingly calling to each other from above.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A fine old Norman cathedral, by the side of a famous river--the one celebrated in history, the other a favourite with poets so long ago as Spenser.
