adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
CHIEFnounUS /tʃiːf/
a person who is in charge
From this reading THE CHIEF.
clanship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
creednounUS /kriːd/
any system of principles or beliefs
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
deeperadverbUS /ˈdiːpər/
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
earnestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrnɪst/
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
explainverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪn/
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
fast-vanishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
fearedverbUS /fɪrd/
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
frontnounUS /frʌnt/
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
godlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːdli/
showing great reverence for god
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
heednounUS /hiːd/
paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
hillsnounUS /hɪlz/
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
hurtverbUS /hɜːrt/
be the source of pain
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
illadjectiveUS /ɪl/
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
immeasurablyadverbUS /ˌɪˈmeʒəræbli/
to an immeasurable degree; beyond measurement
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
livedverbUS /lɪvd/
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
ludicrousadjectiveUS /ˈluːdəkrəs/
broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
Macruadh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
ministernounUS /ˈmɪnəstər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
moorlandnounUS /ˈmʊrlænd/
open land usually with peaty soil covered with heather and bracken and moss
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
parish-a
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
partsnounUS /pɑːrts/
the local environment
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
pushedverbUS /pʊʃt/
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
sensenounUS /sens/
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
skirtnounUS /skɜːrt/
cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
sonnounUS /sʌn/
a male human offspring
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
sore-frayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHIEF.
thenceadverbUS /ðens/
from that place or that time
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
thoroughbrednounUS /ˈθɜːroʊˈbred/
a well-bred person
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
torrentsnounUS /ˈtɔːrənts/
plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
umbrellanounUS /əmˈbrelə/
a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The rain was beginning to come down in earnest, but he did not heed it; he was thoroughbred, and feared no element.
wastingnounUS /ˈweɪstɪŋ/
any general reduction in vitality and strength of body and mind resulting from a debilitating chronic disease
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The Macruadh, as the few who yet held by the sore-frayed, fast-vanishing skirt of clanship, called him, was the son of the last minister of the parish-a godly man, who lived that which he could ill explain, and was immeasurably better than those parts of his creed which, from a sense of duty, he pushed to the front.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading An umbrella was to him a ludicrous thing: how could a little rain--as he would have called it had it come down in torrents--hurt any one!
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading The Macruadh strode into the dark, and down the village, wasting no time in picking his way--thence into the yet deeper dark of the moorland hills.
