Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Surely there must be a village down there.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

later than; following

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

(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 The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

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

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

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

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Surely there must be a village down there.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

past form of “chime” — emit a sound

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

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

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

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

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

a small house with a single story

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Surely there must be a village down there.

divisible by two

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

having sore or tired feet

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

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

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

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

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

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

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

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

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

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

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

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

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

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

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

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

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

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

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Surely there must be a village down there.

information about recent and important events

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

no person; not anyone

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

plural of “policeman” — a member of a police force

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

precisely, exactly

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

term of address for a man

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

a short musical composition with words

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Surely there must be a village down there.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

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

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Surely there must be a village down there.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

needing moisture

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

past form of “tinkle” — make or emit a high sound

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

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

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

male cat

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

precisely as stated

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading Surely there must be a village down there.

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

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

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

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

during the time that

From this reading However, down he went; like a brave little man as he was, though he was very footsore, and tired, and hungry, and thirsty; while the church-bells rang so loud, he began to think that they must be inside his own head, and the river chimed and tinkled far below; and this was the song which it sang:—

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Well, nobody would know him, or what had happened at the Place.

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading Tom was quite right about the hue-and-cry not having got thither; for he had come without knowing it, the best part of ten miles from Harthover; but he was wrong about getting down in five minutes, for the cottage was more than a mile off, and a good thousand feet below.

but in spite of that

From this reading The news could not have got there yet, even if Sir John had set all the policemen in the county after him; and he could get down there in five minutes.