used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
(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 “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ben nodded his head and smiled in his usual good-natured way.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
decentadjectiveUS /ˈdiːsənt/
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
at any time
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
a man of refinement
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
destroyed or killed
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
good-naturedadjective
having an easygoing and cheerful disposition
From this reading Ben nodded his head and smiled in his usual good-natured way.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Ben nodded his head and smiled in his usual good-natured way.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
HOSTLERnounUS /ˈhɑːslər/
someone employed in a stable to take care of the horses
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
knavesnounUS /neɪvz/
plural of “knave” — a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
landladynounUS /ˈlændleɪdi/
a landlord who is a woman
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
a particular point in time
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading Ben nodded his head and smiled in his usual good-natured way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
pipingnounUS /ˈpaɪpɪŋ/
a thin strip of covered cord used to edge hems
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
term of address for a man
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Ben nodded his head and smiled in his usual good-natured way.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
in or at that place or location
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
topsyturvy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
moved around an axis or center
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Ben nodded his head and smiled in his usual good-natured way.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Ben nodded his head and smiled in his usual good-natured way.
(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, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH THE HOSTLER SEES TWO SHADOWS IN THE ROAD There was a complete silence for a moment after the man had gone; then the landlady spoke.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The old gentleman approached Ben, his stick thumping the floor with each step.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading “Well, of all the knaves that ever turned a decent inn topsyturvy, that one is the worst.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “Young sir,” said he, in his piping voice, “I am thankful to you for the service you have rendered us.”
