Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

third-person singular of “admire” — feel admiration for

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

(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 _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

any person at all

From this reading “Can you see anybody, sir?” asked the man in the lane, who was dressed as a farmer.

possessive form of “artist” — a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “Can you see anybody, sir?” asked the man in the lane, who was dressed as a farmer.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

relating to or befitting athletics or athletes

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading On either side were high banks, surmounted by unclipped hedges.

a line that indicates a boundary

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

lacking funds

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

a small house with a single story

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading On either side were high banks, surmounted by unclipped hedges.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “Can you see anybody, sir?” asked the man in the lane, who was dressed as a farmer.

past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

a booth where a priest sits to hear confessions

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

dearly loved

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

having a pattern of dots

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading “Can you see anybody, sir?” asked the man in the lane, who was dressed as a farmer.

remove the dust from

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

one or the other of two

From this reading On either side were high banks, surmounted by unclipped hedges.

a writer of literary works

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

a person who operates a farm

From this reading “Can you see anybody, sir?” asked the man in the lane, who was dressed as a farmer.

plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

intentional deception resulting in injury to another person

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

a long fixed look

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

possessive form of “guy” — an informal term for a youth or man

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

cause to stop

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes

From this reading On either side were high banks, surmounted by unclipped hedges.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading On either side were high banks, surmounted by unclipped hedges.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

a narrow way or road

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

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 One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

expressing sorrow

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

one who writes novels

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

plural of “pedestrian” — a person who travels by foot

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

as yourself

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

a person who takes long walks in the country

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

make tight; secure against leakage

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “Can you see anybody, sir?” asked the man in the lane, who was dressed as a farmer.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading On either side were high banks, surmounted by unclipped hedges.

plural of “sinner” — a person who sins (without repenting)

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

term of address for a man

From this reading “Can you see anybody, sir?” asked the man in the lane, who was dressed as a farmer.

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

(poetic) tranquil silence

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

having something on top

From this reading On either side were high banks, surmounted by unclipped hedges.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

not clipped

From this reading On either side were high banks, surmounted by unclipped hedges.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading On either side were high banks, surmounted by unclipped hedges.

in or at the place that

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading A strange, mournful song broke the stillness of a hot July afternoon, and caused two pedestrians to come to a halt in a lane on which dust lay thick.

a Caucasian

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

which person or people

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

in the company of; together with

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading _Author of “Under Seal of the Confessional,” “The Gate of Sinners,” “The Fraud,” “Trewinnot of Guy’s,” “An Artist’s Model,” etc., etc._ Whom all the world admires as poet, novelist and essayist, and all who know her personally love and reverence as true woman and dear friend.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Can you see anybody, sir?” asked the man in the lane, who was dressed as a farmer.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading One of the pedestrians, a young and athletic man, had climbed the bank nearer to him in a second, and was peering through a gap in the hedge, where nothing met his gaze but miles of smiling country, dotted by farms at long intervals, a bungalow covered with rambler roses, and a white house on the border of a wood.