used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
(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 “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
ampleadjectiveUS /ˈæmpəl/
more than enough in size or scope or capacity
From this reading There was ample room on the broad barn-floor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
astrideadverbUS /əˈstraɪd/
with one leg on each side
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
barn-floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was ample room on the broad barn-floor.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
BeatsnounUS /biːts/
a United States youth subculture of the 1950s; rejected possessions or regular work or traditional dress; for communal living and psychedelic drugs and anarchism; favored modern forms of jazz (e.g., bebop)
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading There was ample room on the broad barn-floor.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
having made preparations
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
divisible by two
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
every person
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “I say, Harte, tune up; give us a rouser.
hailverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
HartenounUS /hɑːrt/
United States writer noted for his stories about life during the California gold rush (1836-1902)
From this reading “I say, Harte, tune up; give us a rouser.
haynounUS /heɪ/
grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I say, Harte, tune up; give us a rouser.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
the force of workers available
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
milking-stools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
munchedverbUS /mʌntʃt/
past form of “munch” — chew noisily
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
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 The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was ample room on the broad barn-floor.
oncomingadjectiveUS /ˈɔːnkʌmɪŋ/
moving toward one
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
proppedverbUS /prɑːpt/
inflected form of “prop” — support by placing against something solid or rigid
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
with low volume
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
reelverbUS /riːl/
walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading There was ample room on the broad barn-floor.
rousernounUS /ˈraʊzər/
someone who rouses others from sleep
From this reading “I say, Harte, tune up; give us a rouser.
done under pressure
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
express in words
From this reading “I say, Harte, tune up; give us a rouser.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
shirt-sleeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
sweet-smellingadjective
having a natural fragrance
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
tempestnounUS /ˈtempəst/
a violent commotion or disturbance
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was ample room on the broad barn-floor.
up to a particular time
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
tree-tops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Beats all!” said the other; and then, as the tree-tops began to reel in the oncoming tempest, everybody rushed for shelter.
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading “I say, Harte, tune up; give us a rouser.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I say, Harte, tune up; give us a rouser.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was ample room on the broad barn-floor.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading The man in the shirt-sleeves looked at his companion and gave a low whistle of astonishment.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The horses quietly munched their oats, the men disposed of themselves here and there, some astride of milking-stools, some stretched at full length on the soft, sweet-smelling hay, some propped up against the open door, till the shifting wind obliged even that to be closed against the rain and hail.
