Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

an annual publication including weather forecasts and other miscellaneous information arranged according to the calendar of a given year

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

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

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

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

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

(used in the plural) the stage of a theater

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

the lower side of anything

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

divisible by two

From this reading Even to shelves.

very good; of the highest quality

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

grass mowed and cured for use as fodder

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

taking full advantage of an opportunity while it lasts

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

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

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

plural of “ladle” — a spoon-shaped vessel with a long handle; frequently used to transfer liquids from one container to another

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

immediately past

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

engage in

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Many useful things he did.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

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

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

past form of “procure” — get by special effort

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

plural of “rake” — a dissolute man in fashionable society

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

plural of “runner” — someone who imports or exports without paying duties

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

plural of “season” — a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.

From this reading Even to shelves.

not tense or taut

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

transport in a sleigh

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

the state of being covered with unclean things

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

meant or adapted for an occasion or use

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

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

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Many useful things he did.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

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

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

the act of using

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

being of use or service

From this reading Many useful things he did.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates

From this reading He set up a pair of shelves inside the house, as an excellent place to keep various things, such as an almanac--he had bought one at last--and ladles and vessels not in use.

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

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

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

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading It was the slack time between the seasons, but the woman Oline did not come.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading Isak was free of the soil now; he had two scythes and two rakes ready for the haymaking; he made long bottom boards for the cart for getting in the hay, and procured a couple of runners and some suitable wood to make a sledge for the winter.