Chapter III · Chapter 3

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

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

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

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

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

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

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

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

the wood cut from a tree burl or outgrowth; often used decoratively in veneer

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

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

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

(prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

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

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

past form of “cock” — tilt or slant to one side

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

commander of the British forces in the American War of Independence; was defeated by American and French troops at Yorktown (1738-1805)

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

not carefully or expertly made

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

cause to move by pulling

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

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

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

the organ of sight

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

opinion or judgment

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

something many people believe that is false

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

very far away in space or time

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

(of e.g. fabric design) adorned with patterns

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

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

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

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

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

in a gradual manner

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

woodlands in full leaf

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

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

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

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

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

done or made using whatever is available

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

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

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

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

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

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

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

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

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

many times at short intervals

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

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

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL AND BUSHIE FIGURED IN EACH OTHER'S EYES.

make a sweeping movement

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

(of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

without much difficulty

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

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

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

(Roman mythology) god of woods and fields and flocks; Pan is the Greek counterpart

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

inflected form of “spy” — catch sight of

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

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

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

express in words

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

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

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

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

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

characterized by variety

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

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

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

at the time that

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

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

From this reading Though a swell in the ground hid them from his view, Bushie could tell almost to the minute when Burl and old Cornwallis made their turn at the farther side of the field, by the singing, which now began to draw gradually nearer.

during the time that

From this reading Such was a stanza from one of the songs that Big Black Burl was singing while he plowed.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

past form of “wink” — signal by winking

From this reading I spied a jay-bird on a tree, A ridin' on a swingin' lim'; He cocked his eye an' winked at me, I cocked my gun an' winked at him; An' de jay-bird flew away-- De jay-bird flew away-- An' lef' de lim' a-swingin'-- A-swingin'.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

the words that are spoken

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

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

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.

but in spite of that

From this reading The words were simple and crude enough, yet would the melody now and then be varied with an improvised cadence of wild and peculiar sweetness, such as one might readily fancy had often been heard in the far-off, golden days of Pan and Silvanus, and the other cloven-heeled, funny-eared _genii_ of the greenwood.