used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
abundantadjectiveUS /əˈbʌndənt/
present in great quantity
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
Bert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
Bert's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading COUNTRY EXPERIENCES.
cropnounUS /krɑːp/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
EXPERIENCESnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading COUNTRY EXPERIENCES.
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
hayingnounUS /ˈheɪɪŋ/
the harvesting of hay
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
intervale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
and nothing more
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
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 The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading The mowing machine had not yet reached Maplebank.
Maplebank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
mowingverbUS /ˈmaʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “mow” — cut with a blade or mower
From this reading The mowing machine had not yet reached Maplebank.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The mowing machine had not yet reached Maplebank.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The mowing machine had not yet reached Maplebank.
reapernounUS /ˈriːpər/
someone who helps to gather the harvest
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
russetnounUS /ˈrʌsɪt/
a reddish brown homespun fabric
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
scythenounUS /sɪθ/
an edge tool for cutting grass; has a long handle that must be held with both hands and a curved blade that moves parallel to the ground
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
stretchesnounUS /ˈstretʃəz/
plural of “stretch” — a large and unbroken expanse or distance
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bert had come to Maplebank just in time for the haying season.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
uplandadjectiveUS /ˈʌplənd/
used of high or hilly country
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading The long slopes of upland and the level stretches of intervale waved before the breeze their russet and green wealth, awaiting the summons of the scythe and reaper.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading A number of extra hands had been hired to help in gathering the crop, which this year was unusually abundant, and a few days after Bert's coming the attack was begun.
but in spite of that
From this reading The mowing machine had not yet reached Maplebank.
