Chapter XII · Chapter 12

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

anew

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

forming or resembling an arch

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

past form of “bank” — tip laterally

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading In this triangular space, in the lee of shed and straw-rick, the cattle passed a dolorous winter.

be silly or tease one another

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

plural of “chore” — a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

showing sorrow

From this reading In this triangular space, in the lee of shed and straw-rick, the cattle passed a dolorous winter.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

having or given a form or shape

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

having unexpected good fortune

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

grass mowed and cured for use as fodder

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

characteristic of or suffering from kyphosis, an abnormality of the vertebral column

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In this triangular space, in the lee of shed and straw-rick, the cattle passed a dolorous winter.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)

From this reading In this triangular space, in the lee of shed and straw-rick, the cattle passed a dolorous winter.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

as might be expected

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

and nothing more

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading In this triangular space, in the lee of shed and straw-rick, the cattle passed a dolorous winter.

past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

a treeless grassy plain

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

plural of “rick” — a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

covered with a roof; having a roof as specified (often used in combination)

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

get rid of

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

a protective covering or structure

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading In this triangular space, in the lee of shed and straw-rick, the cattle passed a dolorous winter.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In this triangular space, in the lee of shed and straw-rick, the cattle passed a dolorous winter.

wear off or die down

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Mostly they burrowed in the chaff, or stood about humped and shivering--only on sunny days did their arching backs subside.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

having three angles; forming or shaped like a triangle

From this reading In this triangular space, in the lee of shed and straw-rick, the cattle passed a dolorous winter.

not fit for habitation

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Naturally each animal grew a thick coat of long hair, and succeeded in coming through to grass again, but the cows of some of our neighbors were less fortunate.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Our horse-barn, roofed with hay and banked with chaff, formed the west wall of the cowpen, and a long low shed gave shelter to the north.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Chores and Almanacs Our farm-yard would have been uninhabitable during this winter had it not been for the long ricks of straw which we had piled up as a shield against the prairie winds.