used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
abatedverbUS /əˈbeɪtɪd/
past form of “abate” — make less active or intense
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading The bustle and activity with which the sport had begun became irregularly intermittent.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
aidedadjectiveUS /ˈeɪdəd/
having help; often used as a combining form
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The bustle and activity with which the sport had begun became irregularly intermittent.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The bustle and activity with which the sport had begun became irregularly intermittent.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
bird-egg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
bredverbUS /bred/
inflected form of “breed” — call forth
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading The bustle and activity with which the sport had begun became irregularly intermittent.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
contestnounUS /ˈkɑːntest/
an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
DALLYING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DALLYING.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
desultoryadjectiveUS /ˈdesəltɔːri/
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
dreamyadjectiveUS /ˈdriːmi/
dreamy in mood or nature
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
enthusiasticadjectiveUS /ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk/
having or showing great excitement and interest
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
the act of departing
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The bustle and activity with which the sport had begun became irregularly intermittent.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
intermittentadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈmɪtənt/
stopping and starting at irregular intervals
From this reading The bustle and activity with which the sport had begun became irregularly intermittent.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
irregularlyadverbUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələrli/
at an uneven rate
From this reading The bustle and activity with which the sport had begun became irregularly intermittent.
isolationnounUS /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/
a state of separation between persons or groups
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
languornoun
a relaxed comfortable feeling
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
quail-shoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
quietudenoun
a state of peace and quiet
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
semi-tropical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
sereneadjectiveUS /sərˈiːn/
not agitated; without losing self-possession
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
skirmishnounUS /ˈskɜːrmɪʃ/
a minor short-term fight
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading The bustle and activity with which the sport had begun became irregularly intermittent.
sportsmannounUS /ˈspɔːrtsmən/
someone who engages in sports
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
suitedadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtɪd/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
tintedverbUS /ˈtɪntɪd/
past form of “tint” — color lightly
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The quail-shoot, after the enthusiastic contest of the first day, abated to a sort of desultory skirmish, each sportsman going into the field as best suited his mood.
transparentadjectiveUS /trænˈsperənt/
transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The weather bred a languor, peculiarly Southern and dreamy, which was aided by the quietude and isolation of the place.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The bustle and activity with which the sport had begun became irregularly intermittent.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Day after day the sky was serene and cloudless, tinted with that cool, bird-egg blue, tender, delicate, transparent, against which the lines of wood came out with a peculiar semi-tropical effect.
