Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

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

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

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

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

later than; following

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

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

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

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

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

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

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

plural of “apology” — an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

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

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

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

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading In the clearing back of the house a few wretched tents indicated a bivouac.

without shoes

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading In the clearing back of the house a few wretched tents indicated a bivouac.

past form of “blaze” — shine brightly and intensively

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

the two together, not just one

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area

From this reading In the clearing back of the house a few wretched tents indicated a bivouac.

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

a river that rises in the Catskills in southeastern New York and flows southward along the border of Pennsylvania with New York and New Jersey to northern Delaware where it empties into Delaware Bay

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

house for a farmer and family

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading In the clearing back of the house a few wretched tents indicated a bivouac.

plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

having or given a form or shape

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

a small growth of trees without underbrush

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

(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 Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

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

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

showing warm and heartfelt friendliness

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

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

From this reading In the clearing back of the house a few wretched tents indicated a bivouac.

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

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of

From this reading In the clearing back of the house a few wretched tents indicated a bivouac.

linked or locked closely together as by dovetailing

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

exhausted

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

the place where two or more things come together

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

the force of workers available

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

according to the clock

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

held or filled or in use

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

past form of “picket” — serve as pickets or post pickets

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

usable for a specific purpose

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

a partly sheltered anchorage

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

socially incorrect in behavior

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

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

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

a particular situation

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

plural of “sol” — a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

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

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

having a supporting base

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

plural of “steed” — (literary) a spirited horse for state of war

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

past form of “supplement” — add as a supplement to what seems insufficient

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

worn to shreds; or wearing torn or ragged clothing

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading In the clearing back of the house a few wretched tents indicated a bivouac.

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

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

bound or secured closely

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

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

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

having edges that are jagged from injury

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

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 Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

plural of “uniform” — clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a particular group as a means of identification

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

to a remarkable degree or extent

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

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

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

precisely as stated

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

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

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

at the time that

From this reading The faded uniforms of the men were tattered and torn; some of the soldiers were almost barefoot, wearing wretched apologies for shoes, which had been supplemented when practicable by bits of cloth tied about the soles of the feet.

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

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

which person or people

From this reading Bright fires blazed in front of the tents, and the men who occupied them were enjoying an unusually hearty meal.

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

From this reading Some shivering horses were picketed under a rude shelter, formed by interlacing branches between the trunks of a little grove of thickly growing trees which had been left standing as a wind-break.

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

From this reading _A Winter Camp_ About half after one o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 25th, being Christmas day, and very cold, four tired horsemen, on jaded steeds, rode up to a plain stone farmhouse standing at the junction of two common country roads, both of which led to the Delaware River, a mile or so away.

of very poor quality or condition

From this reading In the clearing back of the house a few wretched tents indicated a bivouac.