used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
(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 On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was well known, however, that we were not to get the threshing-machine at all.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
berrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
farmsnounUS /fɑːrmz/
plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
fish-pole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
fruit-picking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was well known, however, that we were not to get the threshing-machine at all.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How it was managed, I never understood.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was well known, however, that we were not to get the threshing-machine at all.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading How it was managed, I never understood.
idlingnounUS /ˈaɪdəlɪŋ/
having no employment
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
itinerantnounUS /aɪˈtɪnərənt/
a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
JunonounUS /ˈdʒuːnoʊ/
(Roman mythology) queen of the Olympian gods who protected marriage; wife and sister of Jupiter; counterpart of Greek Hera
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading It was well known, however, that we were not to get the threshing-machine at all.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading How it was managed, I never understood.
the force of workers available
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
mid-Augustnoun
the middle part of August
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
MillsnounUS /mɪlz/
United States architect who was the presidentially appointed architect of Washington D.C. (1781-1855)
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading How it was managed, I never understood.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was well known, however, that we were not to get the threshing-machine at all.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
and nothing more
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
roundaboutadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəbaʊt/
marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
slackadjectiveUS /slæk/
not tense or taut
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
stone-drawing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
threshing-machine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading How it was managed, I never understood.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On all the other farms roundabout, this mid-August was a slack season.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It was well known, however, that we were not to get the threshing-machine at all.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It was well known, however, that we were not to get the threshing-machine at all.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was well known, however, that we were not to get the threshing-machine at all.
belonging to which person
From this reading Only upon the one farm whose turn it was that week to be visited by the itinerant threshing-machine, was any special activity visible.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The hired men and boys did a little early fruit-picking, a little berrying, a little stone-drawing, but for the most part they could be seen idling about the woods or along the river down below Juno Mills, with gun or fish-pole.
