Chapter III

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

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

present in great quantity

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

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

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

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

From this reading He lived by it as much as did the sheep and goats.

any person at all

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

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

From this reading He lived by it as much as did the sheep and goats.

make certain of

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

plural of “barrack” — a building or group of buildings used to house military personnel

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

confined to bed (by illness)

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

lacking or showing a lack of due concern

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

a youthful male person

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He lived by it as much as did the sheep and goats.

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

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

without stop or interruption

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

past form of “convey” — (of information) make known; pass on

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

past form of “defend” — argue or speak in defense of

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

in a delicate manner

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

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

From this reading He lived by it as much as did the sheep and goats.

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

the act of consuming food

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

a church congregation guided by a pastor

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

a high-pitched woodwind instrument; a slender tube closed at one end with finger holes on one end and an opening near the closed end across which the breath is blown

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

many times at short intervals

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

a young female

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

plural of “glen” — a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

plural of “goat” — any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns

From this reading He lived by it as much as did the sheep and goats.

death of a person

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

-ing form of “gurgle” — flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

plural of “harvest” — the yield from plants in a single growing season

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

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

From this reading He lived by it as much as did the sheep and goats.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

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

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

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

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

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

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

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

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading He lived by it as much as did the sheep and goats.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

a female domestic

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He lived by it as much as did the sheep and goats.

not any; not one

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

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

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

and nothing more

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

above and across; more than

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

a large and stately mansion

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

past form of “persist” — continue to exist

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

plural of “pigeon” — wild and domesticated birds having a heavy body and short legs

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

a thin strip of covered cord used to edge hems

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

having a tendency (to); often used in combination

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

belonging to or characteristic of Romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

cut with a saw

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

only a very short time before

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

the act of searching for something

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

protected from heat and light with shade or shadow

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat

From this reading He lived by it as much as did the sheep and goats.

a clergyman who watches over a group of people

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

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

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

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

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

lighted by sunlight

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

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

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

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

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

plural of “visitor” — someone who visits

From this reading VISITORS Over the peaceful Israelitish hills came the piping of a reed flute.

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

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

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

From this reading When the notes were sad--as they frequently were--he defended this maid from some grave peril in which the odds were all against him.

at the time that

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

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

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading When the tune was blithe he saw sunlit fields and abundant harvests; shaded glens and cool, gurgling streams; a palace and a soldiers’ barracks; the face of an old, bedridden woman and a delicately pretty girl feeding pigeons in a romantic spot.

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

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

but in spite of that

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.

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

From this reading Anyone familiar with the country would know that it was a shepherd, seeking to assure the flock of his continued presence that they might fear no evil, but to the young man, scarcely more than a boy, lying prone on his back in the shade of the bushes, it conveyed nothing at all, yet it was the only sound which persisted in his consciousness.