used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The houses were clustered more thickly together around the outskirts of the town.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
lacking funds
From this reading At last they reached the level road that led into Eastcaster, and the nag broke into a trot.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
clusteredadjectiveUS /ˈklʌstərd/
growing close together but not in dense mats
From this reading The houses were clustered more thickly together around the outskirts of the town.
collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/
brought together in one place
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course, the news had spread everywhere, and knots of people were gathered here and there talking the matter over.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
in a serious manner
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
Eastcaster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last they reached the level road that led into Eastcaster, and the nag broke into a trot.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Of course, the news had spread everywhere, and knots of people were gathered here and there talking the matter over.
enclose with a fence
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
set up or found
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
brought together in one place
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
gignounUS /ɡɪɡ/
long and light rowing boat; especially for racing
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Of course, the news had spread everywhere, and knots of people were gathered here and there talking the matter over.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The houses were clustered more thickly together around the outskirts of the town.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At last they reached the level road that led into Eastcaster, and the nag broke into a trot.
IsaacnounUS /ˈaɪzək/
(Old Testament) the second patriarch; son of Abraham and Sarah who was offered by Abraham as a sacrifice to God; father of Jacob and Esau
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
knotsnounUS /nɑːts/
plural of “knot” — a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading Of course, the news had spread everywhere, and knots of people were gathered here and there talking the matter over.
immediately past
From this reading At last they reached the level road that led into Eastcaster, and the nag broke into a trot.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading At last they reached the level road that led into Eastcaster, and the nag broke into a trot.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading At last they reached the level road that led into Eastcaster, and the nag broke into a trot.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Of course, the news had spread everywhere, and knots of people were gathered here and there talking the matter over.
the force of workers available
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
morbidadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrbəd/
suggesting an unhealthy mental state
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The houses were clustered more thickly together around the outskirts of the town.
nagverbUS /næɡ/
bother persistently with trivial complaints
From this reading At last they reached the level road that led into Eastcaster, and the nag broke into a trot.
Naylor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Of course, the news had spread everywhere, and knots of people were gathered here and there talking the matter over.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
outskirtsnounUS /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/
outlying areas (as of a city or town)
From this reading The houses were clustered more thickly together around the outskirts of the town.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Of course, the news had spread everywhere, and knots of people were gathered here and there talking the matter over.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
Penrose's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading At last they reached the level road that led into Eastcaster, and the nag broke into a trot.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Of course, the news had spread everywhere, and knots of people were gathered here and there talking the matter over.
stirsnounUS /stɜːrz/
plural of “stir” — a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading The houses were clustered more thickly together around the outskirts of the town.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
male cat
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The houses were clustered more thickly together around the outskirts of the town.
trotverbUS /trɑːt/
run at a moderately swift pace
From this reading At last they reached the level road that led into Eastcaster, and the nag broke into a trot.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A knot of people had gathered about the place where the body had been found, collected there by the morbid curiosity that stirs men at such a time; they were talking earnestly together, some sitting on the fence, some leaning against it.
in or at the place that
From this reading AS the gig rattled down the hill and past the end of Penrose’s road, Tom leaned forward and looked up toward the spot where he had met Isaac Naylor the day before.
