used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
a quantity of money
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE POWDER MINE THE night was dark.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
downpournounUS /ˈdaʊnpɔːr/
a heavy rain
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
drizzlenounUS /ˈdrɪzəl/
very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
Emsworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
an old word for “before”
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
gatehousenoun
a house built at a gateway; usually the gatekeeper's residence
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
indistinctlyadverb
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
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 A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
Markhams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE POWDER MINE THE night was dark.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE POWDER MINE THE night was dark.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
the local environment
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
POWDERnounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading THE POWDER MINE THE night was dark.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
rebelsnounUS /ˈrebəlz/
plural of “rebel” — “Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
renderingnounUS /ˈrendərɪŋ/
a performance of a musical composition or a dramatic role etc.
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE POWDER MINE THE night was dark.
throbbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
up to a particular time
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/
in a violent manner
From this reading It must have been nearly midnight ere the black masses of the castle loomed indistinctly against the darkness, and at the sight of the familiar building my heart throbbed violently.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
wardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE POWDER MINE THE night was dark.
look attentively
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
wayfarernoun
a pedestrian who walks from place to place
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was a certain amount of satisfaction to find that the castle had not been reduced to a heap of stone, like many I had seen in various parts of the country; but the question arose in my mind, Did it still belong to the Markhams, or were my people driven out by the rebels?
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading A solitary light gleamed through the narrow window above the gatehouse, so that I knew that watch and ward was being kept.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The drizzle had increased to a continuous downpour, rendering walking a matter of difficulty, and from the time I left Emsworth till the time I came within sight of my father's home I never met a solitary wayfarer.
