used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading It affords exercise for all their habits of patient endurance and active exertion.
affordsverbUS /əˈfɔːrdz/
third-person singular of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading It affords exercise for all their habits of patient endurance and active exertion.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
(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 It affords exercise for all their habits of patient endurance and active exertion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
quick and energetic
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
commencesverbUS /kəˈmensəz/
third-person singular of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
countiesnounUS /ˈkaʊntiz/
plural of “county” — (United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
dealersnounUS /ˈdiːlərz/
plural of “dealer” — someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
DonnenounUS /dʌn/
English clergyman and metaphysical poet celebrated as a preacher (1572-1631)
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
drovesnounUS /droʊvz/
plural of “drove” — a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
endurancenounUS /ˈendərəns/
the power to withstand hardship or stress
From this reading It affords exercise for all their habits of patient endurance and active exertion.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading It affords exercise for all their habits of patient endurance and active exertion.
exertionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/
use of physical or mental energy; hard work
From this reading It affords exercise for all their habits of patient endurance and active exertion.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
farm-yards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
farmersnounUS /ˈfɑːrmərz/
plural of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
fattenedadjectiveUS /ˈfætənd/
(of market animals) made ready for market
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
flownverbUS /floʊn/
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
gladdenverbUS /ˈɡlædən/
make glad or happy
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading It affords exercise for all their habits of patient endurance and active exertion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
HighlandnounUS /ˈhaɪlənd/
elevated (e.g., mountainous) land
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
HighlandersnounUS /ˈhaɪlændərz/
plural of “highlander” — a soldier in a Scottish regiment from the Highlands
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
ten 10s
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
laboriousadjectiveUS /ləˈbɔːriəs/
characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
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 large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
United States poet (1869-1950)
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
merrilyadverbUS /ˈmerəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
midlandnounUS /ˈmɪdlænd/
a town in west central Texas
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
ownersnounUS /ˈoʊnərz/
plural of “owner” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading It affords exercise for all their habits of patient endurance and active exertion.
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
purchasedverbUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəst/
past form of “purchase” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
shamblesnounUS /ˈʃæmbəlz/
a condition of great disorder
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
tediousadjectiveUS /ˈtiːdiəs/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had been a brisk market: several dealers had attended from the northern and midland counties in England, and English money had flown so merrily about as to gladden the hearts of the Highland farmers.
topsmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
(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 The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
at the time that
From this reading It was the day after Donne Fair when my story commences.
in or at the place that
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Highlanders in particular are masters of this difficult trade of driving, which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed in the tedious, laborious, and responsible office of driving the cattle for many hundred miles, from the market where they had been purchased to the fields or farm-yards where they were to be fattened for the shambles.
