used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
brooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
bustlingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌsəlɪŋ/
full of energetic and noisy activity
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
By-and-bynoun
an indefinite time in the future
From this reading By-and-by a horseman came in sight at the far end of the road, and the brook was forgotten.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading By-and-by a horseman came in sight at the far end of the road, and the brook was forgotten.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading The cloud overhead.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading By-and-by a horseman came in sight at the far end of the road, and the brook was forgotten.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading By-and-by a horseman came in sight at the far end of the road, and the brook was forgotten.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading By-and-by a horseman came in sight at the far end of the road, and the brook was forgotten.
Fortune'snounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənz/
possessive form of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
in a gradual manner
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
gurglingverbUS /ˈɡɜːrɡəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “gurgle” — flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
half-enjoying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
half-indulging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
horsemannounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
a man skilled in equitation
From this reading By-and-by a horseman came in sight at the far end of the road, and the brook was forgotten.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
in motion
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading The cloud overhead.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading By-and-by a horseman came in sight at the far end of the road, and the brook was forgotten.
soothingadjectiveUS /ˈsuːðɪŋ/
affording physical relief
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
having a supporting base
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The cloud overhead.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The gurgling sound of the brook a few steps off was a great deal more soothing to her ear than Miss Fortune's sharp tones.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
wicketnounUS /ˈwɪkət/
cricket equipment consisting of a set of three stumps topped by crosspieces; used in playing cricket
From this reading One day in the early part of September, she was standing in front of the house at the little wicket that opened on the road.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With her back against the open gate, she was gently moving it to and fro, half-enjoying the weather and the scene, half-indulging the melancholy mood which drove her from the presence of her bustling aunt.
