AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
AccordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
aftermathnounUS /ˈæftərmæθ/
the consequences of an event (especially a catastrophic event)
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
appeaseverbUS /əˈpiːz/
cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
attainingverbUS /əˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “attain” — to gain with effort
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
attemptnounUS /əˈtempt/
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
brokeadjectiveUS /broʊk/
lacking funds
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
Chapdelaines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
clovernounUS /ˈkloʊvər/
a plant of the genus Trifolium
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
colouradjectiveUS /ˈkʌlər/
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
constancynounUS /ˈkɑːnstənsi/
the quality of being enduring and free from change or variation
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
cowsnounUS /kaʊz/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
cropnounUS /krɑːp/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
displeasurenounUS /dɪˈspleʒər/
the feeling of being displeased or annoyed or dissatisfied with someone or something
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
divineadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaɪn/
emanating from God
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
droughtnounUS /draʊt/
a shortage of rainfall
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
drynessnounUS /ˈdraɪnəs/
the condition of not containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water)
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
ereconjunctionUS /er/
an old word for “before”
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
famishedadjectiveUS /ˈfæmɪʃt/
extremely hungry
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
fencesnounUS /ˈfensəz/
plural of “fence” — a barrier that serves to enclose an area
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
grassverbUS /ɡræs/
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
hay-making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
headsnounUS /hedz/
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
hungernounUS /ˈhʌŋɡər/
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
lowingverbUS /ˈloʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “low” — make a low noise, characteristic of bovines
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
MEAGERadjectiveUS /ˈmiːɡər/
deficient in amount or quality or extent
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
mercilessadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrsələs/
having or showing no mercy
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
OatsnounUS /oʊts/
plural of “oat” — annual grass of Europe and North Africa; grains used as food and fodder (referred to primarily in the plural: “oats”)
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
persistedverbUS /pərˈsɪstɪd/
past form of “persist” — continue to exist
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
REAPINGverbUS /ˈriːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “reap” — gather, as of natural products
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
sicklyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪkli/
unhealthy looking
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
soreadjectiveUS /sɔːr/
hurting
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/
having a supporting base
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
suggestedverbUS /səˈdʒestɪd/
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
sunnounUS /sʌn/
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
temptationnounUS /temˈteɪʃən/
something that seduces or has the quality to seduce
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
unusualadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəl/
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
visitedverbUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪd/
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
wearyverbUS /ˈwɪri/
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
welcomeverbUS /ˈwelkəm/
accept gladly
From this reading A MEAGER REAPING September arrived, and the dryness so welcome for the hay-making persisted till it became a disaster.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They had to be watched continually, for even the meager standing crop was a sore temptation, and never a day went by but one of them broke through the rails in the attempt to appease her hunger among the grain.
wheatnounUS /wiːt/
annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Then, of a sudden one evening, as though weary of a constancy so unusual, the wind shifted and in the morning came the rain.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading According to the Chapdelaines, never had the country been visited with such a drought as this, and every day a fresh motive was suggested for the divine displeasure.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading Oats and wheat took on a sickly colour ere attaining their growth; a merciless sun withered the grass and the clover aftermath, and all day long the famished cows stood lowing with their heads over the fences.
