used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
ACHILLESnounUS /əˈkɪliz/
a mythical Greek hero of the Iliad
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
Barbara's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
battlementedadjective
protected with battlements or parapets with indentations or embrasures for shooting through
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
belongingnounUS /bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋ/
happiness felt in a secure relationship
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
(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 It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
bourgeoning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
bramblesnounUS /ˈbræmbəlz/
plural of “bramble” — any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
chimneysnounUS /ˈtʃɪmniz/
plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
cragnounUS /kræɡ/
a steep rugged rock or cliff
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
Cringel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
decaynounUS /dɪˈkeɪ/
the process of gradually becoming inferior
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
eagle'snounUS /ˈiːɡəlz/
possessive form of “eagle” — any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
encroachedverbUS /ɪnˈkroʊtʃt/
past form of “encroach” — advance beyond the usual limit
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
farm-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
fellsnounUS /felz/
plural of “fell” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
fellside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
fortifiedadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrtəfaɪd/
secured with bastions or fortifications
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
frequentverbUS /ˈfriːkwənt/
do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
HartnounUS /hɑːrt/
United States playwright who collaborated with George S. Kaufman (1904-1961)
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
JoelnounUS /ˈdʒoʊəl/
a Hebrew minor prophet
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
juttingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌtɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
leafnounUS /liːf/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
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 It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
loop-holed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
moss-troopers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
cut with a saw
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
scanverbUS /skæn/
examine minutely or intensely
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
SHIELDnounUS /ʃiːld/
a protective covering or structure
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
thicketnounUS /ˈθɪkɪt/
a dense growth of bushes
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
the upper part of anything
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading She looked down and saw the trees bourgeoning into leaf, and rising out of them, on the top of a jutting crag, the old house belonging to Joel Hart.
underneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/
directly under, often hidden by what is above
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
unpretentiousadjectiveUS /ˌʌnpriˈtenʃəs/
lacking pretension or affectation
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
villagersnounUS /ˈvɪlɪdʒərz/
plural of “villager” — one who has lived in a village most of their life
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES Barbara was driving sheep on the fells above Cringel Forest.
at the time that
From this reading It was an unpretentious place, but battlemented and loop-holed, made for defence when moss-troopers paid frequent visits, and not for beauty or comfort.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was, in fact, little better than a fortified farm-house; underneath it ran a long dark cellar, where the cattle of the villagers could be driven for safety in times of alarm.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Barbara's keen eyes--keen as an eagle's to scan the broad fellside--noted the air of decay which had settled upon it, the thicket of brambles among the chimneys, and how a pine, growing out of the rocks, encroached upon the doorway.
