Chapter III

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

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

From this reading In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

in a state of sleep

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

plural of “beginning” — the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

not accessible to view

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

having spots or patches of color

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

the process of gradually becoming inferior

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

a city of north central North Carolina; site of Duke University

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

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

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

(comparative of “few” used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

an angular or rounded shape made by folding

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

a county of southern England on the English Channel

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

ten 10s

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

situated away from an area's coast or border

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

letters inscribed (especially words engraved or carved) on something

From this reading In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

moving to the inside of something

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

From this reading In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

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

From this reading In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

the movement of persons from one country or locality to another

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

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

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

a state that is calm and tranquil

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

a signal that encodes something (e.g., picture or sound) that has been recorded

From this reading In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

inflected form of “rob” — take something away by force or without the consent of the owner

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

being five more than seventy

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

provided with shutters or shutters as specified; often used in combination

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

block consisting of a thick piece of something

From this reading In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

the state of being asleep

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

ready to fall asleep

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

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

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

having something on top

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

confined on all sides

From this reading In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

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 In the thick grass that surrounded the old meeting-house there lay a marble slab recording the event with an inscription which read:

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

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

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

at the time that

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

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

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

a Caucasian

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading When Olivia first came to the old house as the wife of Anson Pentland, the village of Durham, which lay inland from Pentlands and the sea, had been invisible, lying concealed in a fold of the land which marked the faint beginnings of the New Hampshire mountains.

in the company of; together with

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading There had been in the view a certain sleepy peacefulness: one knew that in the distant fold of land surmounted by a single white spire there lay a quiet village of white wooden houses built along a single street called High Street that was dappled in summer with the shadows of old elm-trees.

a late time of life

From this reading In those days it had been a country village, half asleep, with empty shuttered houses here and there falling into slow decay--a village with fewer people in it than there had been a hundred years before.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading It had stayed thus sleeping for nearly seventy-five years, since the day when a great migration of citizens had robbed it of its sturdiest young people.