used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
(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 She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
axenounUS /æks/
an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
breadthnounUS /bredθ/
the capacity to understand a broad range of topics
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
broad-bladed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading They quite forgot to thank Esben for what he had done for them.
being one more than ten
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
Esben
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They quite forgot to thank Esben for what he had done for them.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading They quite forgot to thank Esben for what he had done for them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
destroyed or killed
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
hackedverbUS /hækt/
past form of “hack” — cut with a hacking tool
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
hand'snounUS /hændz/
possessive form of “hand” — the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They quite forgot to thank Esben for what he had done for them.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
night-caps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading They quite forgot to thank Esben for what he had done for them.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
sleepersnounUS /ˈsliːpərz/
plural of “sleeper” — a rester who is sleeping
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
in the near future
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading They quite forgot to thank Esben for what he had done for them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They quite forgot to thank Esben for what he had done for them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They quite forgot to thank Esben for what he had done for them.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
wakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
(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 As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand, and went over all the eleven beds.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They quite forgot to thank Esben for what he had done for them.
at the time that
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
which person or people
From this reading It was so dark that she could not see a hand’s breadth before her, but she felt her way, and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men’s night-caps on--and these were her own daughters.
witchnounUS /wɪtʃ/
a female sorcerer or magician
From this reading When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along.
witch'snounUS /ˈwɪtʃɪz/
possessive form of “witch” — a female sorcerer or magician
From this reading As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers, and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch’s house, glad that they had escaped so well.
