used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was pleasantly situated at the top of Berne Hills.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
BERNEnounUS /bɜːrn/
the capital of Switzerland; located in western Switzerland
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading There were comfortable seats in it, and a few odd books and pictures.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading There were comfortable seats in it, and a few odd books and pictures.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
convertedverbUS /kənˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “convert” — change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
EAVES-DROPPERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There were comfortable seats in it, and a few odd books and pictures.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
hamletsnounUS /ˈhæmləts/
plural of “hamlet” — a community of people smaller than a village
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
ILLUSTRATESverbUS /ˈɪləstreɪts/
third-person singular of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were comfortable seats in it, and a few odd books and pictures.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
INTRODUCESverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːsɪz/
third-person singular of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was pleasantly situated at the top of Berne Hills.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
mountainousadjectiveUS /ˈmaʊntənəs/
having hills and crags
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
a form of address for a man
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
not divisible by two
From this reading There were comfortable seats in it, and a few odd books and pictures.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
originallyadverbUS /ərˈɪdʒənəli/
in an original manner
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
pasturesnounUS /ˈpæstʃərz/
plural of “pasture” — a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading There were comfortable seats in it, and a few odd books and pictures.
pleasantlyadverbUS /ˈplezəntli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading It was pleasantly situated at the top of Berne Hills.
PROVERBnounUS /ˈprɑːvərb/
a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
scenerynounUS /ˈsiːnəri/
the painted structures of a stage set that are intended to suggest a particular locale
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading There were comfortable seats in it, and a few odd books and pictures.
situatedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪtʃuːeɪtɪd/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading It was pleasantly situated at the top of Berne Hills.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
SUMMER-HOUSE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
Tallant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were comfortable seats in it, and a few odd books and pictures.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
the upper part of anything
From this reading It was pleasantly situated at the top of Berne Hills.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
undulatingverbUS /ˈʌndʒəleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “undulate” — stir up (water) so as to form ripples
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
villagesnounUS /ˈvɪlədʒəz/
plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was pleasantly situated at the top of Berne Hills.
watch-tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were comfortable seats in it, and a few odd books and pictures.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It had originally been a watch-tower, but Mr. Tallant had converted it into what they called the summer-house.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading It commanded sixty miles or more of scenery, flat, undulating, and mountainous; wood, water, and pastures; towns, villages, and hamlets.
