used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Someone would appear there at the turn of a path and would stand before me and smile and approve.
approveverbUS /əˈpruːv/
give sanction to
From this reading Someone would appear there at the turn of a path and would stand before me and smile and approve.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Someone would appear there at the turn of a path and would stand before me and smile and approve.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Someone would appear there at the turn of a path and would stand before me and smile and approve.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
emergingadjectiveUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/
coming to maturity
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
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 That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
come together
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
notingverbUS /ˈnoʊtɪŋ/
-ing form of “note” — make mention of
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
something you have to do
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
and nothing more
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
a course of conduct
From this reading Someone would appear there at the turn of a path and would stand before me and smile and approve.
plantationsnounUS /ˌplænˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “plantation” — an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
plumpadjectiveUS /plʌmp/
sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
shrinkverbUS /ʃrɪŋk/
wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Someone would appear there at the turn of a path and would stand before me and smile and approve.
a person, without saying who
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Someone would appear there at the turn of a path and would stand before me and smile and approve.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
strollnounUS /stroʊl/
a leisurely walk (usually in some public place)
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Someone would appear there at the turn of a path and would stand before me and smile and approve.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
tuckedadjectiveUS /tʌkt/
having tucked or being tucked
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Someone would appear there at the turn of a path and would stand before me and smile and approve.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
wanderingsnounUS /ˈwɑːndərɪŋz/
plural of “wandering” — travelling about without any clear destination
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading I didn’t ask more than that--I only asked that he should _know_; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was plump, one afternoon, in the middle of my very hour: the children were tucked away and I had come out for my stroll.
at the time that
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That was exactly present to me--by which I mean the face was--when, on the first of these occasions, at the end of a long June day, I stopped short on emerging from one of the plantations and coming into view of the house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading One of the thoughts that, as I don’t in the least shrink now from noting, used to be with me in these wanderings was that it would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone.
