used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
adjacentadjectiveUS /əˈdʒeɪsənt/
nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
afternoonsnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/
plural of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
(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 For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There was a tramping, a rustling, a dividing of the bushes, and the huntsman appeared.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
berriesnounUS /ˈberiz/
plural of “berry” — any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
blackberriesnounUS /ˈblækberiz/
plural of “blackberry” — large sweet black or very dark purple edible aggregate fruit of any of various bushes of the genus Rubus
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
BondnounUS /bɑːnd/
an electrical force linking atoms
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
bordernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
chattedverbUS /ˈtʃætəd/
inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
copsenoun
a dense growth of bushes
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
dividingverbUS /dɪˈvaɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “divide” — separate into parts or portions
From this reading There was a tramping, a rustling, a dividing of the bushes, and the huntsman appeared.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
assemble or get together
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
hailingverbUS /ˈheɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
Hardman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
Helen'snounUS /ˈhelɪnz/
possessive form of “helen” — (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
hemlocknounUS /ˈhemlɑːk/
poisonous drug derived from an Eurasian plant of the genus Conium
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
huntsmannounUS /ˈhʌntsmən/
someone who hunts game
From this reading There was a tramping, a rustling, a dividing of the bushes, and the huntsman appeared.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
pailnounUS /peɪl/
a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
profusionnounUS /prəˈfjuːʒən/
the property of being extremely abundant
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
possessing material wealth
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
ripeningnounUS /ˈraɪpənɪŋ/
coming to full development; becoming mature
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
rustlingnounUS /ˈrʌslɪŋ/
the stealing of cattle
From this reading There was a tramping, a rustling, a dividing of the bushes, and the huntsman appeared.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a tramping, a rustling, a dividing of the bushes, and the huntsman appeared.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The women had been gathering the fruit for days, and on this occasion Helen had arranged to go with them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
trampingverbUS /ˈtræmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “tramp” — travel on foot, especially on a walking expedition
From this reading There was a tramping, a rustling, a dividing of the bushes, and the huntsman appeared.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
at the time that
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Two afternoons later Helen went with the women Bond and Hardman to gather blackberries, which were ripening in rich profusion upon bushes scattered along the southern border of a copse of hemlock.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Helen's pail was almost full, and she was on the point of hailing her companions to return to the garrison, when the report of a gun in the adjacent woods startled her.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading For a while all laughed and chatted and picked the berries side by side; but as the good patches became more scattered, they drifted apart, each working on in silence.
