used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
accomplishmentnounUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃmənt/
the action of accomplishing something
From this reading The light of hope, the joy of labor and accomplishment, had in a measure departed.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
adventnounUS /ˈædvent/
arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
cropnounUS /krɑːp/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
well in the past; former
From this reading The light of hope, the joy of labor and accomplishment, had in a measure departed.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There was little or nothing to do, less to look forward to.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
enclose with a fence
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading There was little or nothing to do, less to look forward to.
many times at short intervals
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The light of hope, the joy of labor and accomplishment, had in a measure departed.
harvestnounUS /ˈhɑːrvəst/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
haynounUS /heɪ/
grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
homesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/
the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading The light of hope, the joy of labor and accomplishment, had in a measure departed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The light of hope, the joy of labor and accomplishment, had in a measure departed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading The light of hope, the joy of labor and accomplishment, had in a measure departed.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading The light of hope, the joy of labor and accomplishment, had in a measure departed.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading There was little or nothing to do, less to look forward to.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was little or nothing to do, less to look forward to.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading There was little or nothing to do, less to look forward to.
engage in
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The light of hope, the joy of labor and accomplishment, had in a measure departed.
mendverbUS /mend/
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
NamelessadjectiveUS /ˈneɪm.ləs/
Having no name, or having a name that is kept secret or unknown.
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
NancenounUS /næns/
offensive term for a homosexual man
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was little or nothing to do, less to look forward to.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
oddsnounUS /ɑːdz/
the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The light of hope, the joy of labor and accomplishment, had in a measure departed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was little or nothing to do, less to look forward to.
select carefully from a group
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
pointlessadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪntləs/
not having a point especially a sharp point
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
precautionnounUS /priˈkɔːʃən/
a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
SHERIFF'SnounUS /ˈʃerəfs/
possessive form of “sheriff” — the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
in the near future
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was little or nothing to do, less to look forward to.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LIGHT ON THE SHERIFF’S SHADOWS From that night forth Fair came frequently to the homestead on Nameless.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a dull spot now and his advent was a saving grace.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading For a little while Nance kept to the cabin as a matter of precaution, but soon she began to pick up the odds and ends of her pointless work—to mend the fence which had been cut, and to make ready to harvest the crop of hay across the river.
