used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
abandoningverbUS /əˈbændənɪŋ/
-ing form of “abandon” — forsake, leave behind
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
apprehensionsnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃənz/
plural of “apprehension” — fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
auxiliaryadjectiveUS /ɑːɡˈzɪljəri/
functioning in a supporting capacity
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
uttered without voice
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
contagiousadjectiveUS /kənˈteɪdʒəs/
easily diffused or spread as from one person to another
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
deep-blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
desertionsnounUS /dɪˈzɜːrʃənz/
plural of “desertion” — withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
dewnounUS /duː/
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
your usual mood
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
failingnounUS /ˈfeɪlɪŋ/
a flaw or weak point
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
gravestadjectiveUS /ˈɡrævəst/
superlative of “grave” — dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
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 "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
lavish'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
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 told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
the force of workers available
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Seba Smith.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
and nothing more
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
pleadingnounUS /ˈpliːdɪŋ/
(law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
ratsnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
screennounUS /skriːn/
a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
Seba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Seba Smith.
serjeantnoun
an English barrister of the highest rank
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
transport commercially
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading Mrs. Seba Smith.
stay'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
the rays of the sun
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions.
teemingadjectiveUS /ˈtiːmɪŋ/
abundantly filled with especially living things
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A disposition of that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much as rats are known to quit a sinking ship.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
Twas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
at the time that
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; 'Twas a presence breathed around-- A pleading from the deep-blue sky, And up from the teeming ground.
shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)
From this reading It told of the care that lavish'd had been In sunshine and in dew-- Of the many things that had wrought a screen When peril round it grew."
