used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
acresnounUS /ˈeɪkərz/
extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
From this reading His father had owned a fairly prosperous farm in New Hampshire and on his few acres had lived and died.
(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 All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
butternounUS /ˈbʌtər/
an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
creamnounUS /kriːm/
the best people or things in a group
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading His father had owned a fairly prosperous farm in New Hampshire and on his few acres had lived and died.
divisible by two
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/
a deliberate act of omission
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
a social unit living together
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
farmersnounUS /ˈfɑːrmərz/
plural of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading His father had owned a fairly prosperous farm in New Hampshire and on his few acres had lived and died.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
flournounUS /ˈflaʊər/
fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
HampshirenounUS /ˈhæmpʃər/
a county of southern England on the English Channel
From this reading His father had owned a fairly prosperous farm in New Hampshire and on his few acres had lived and died.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
hidesnounUS /haɪdz/
plural of “hide” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
independencenounUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/
freedom from control or influence of another or others
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a matter of sentiment with me.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading His father had owned a fairly prosperous farm in New Hampshire and on his few acres had lived and died.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It was a matter of sentiment with me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was a matter of sentiment with me.
the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading His father had owned a fairly prosperous farm in New Hampshire and on his few acres had lived and died.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a matter of sentiment with me.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading His father had owned a fairly prosperous farm in New Hampshire and on his few acres had lived and died.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading His father had owned a fairly prosperous farm in New Hampshire and on his few acres had lived and died.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
tender, romantic, or nostalgic feeling or emotion
From this reading It was a matter of sentiment with me.
a particular situation
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
a special situation
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
vegetablesnounUS /ˈvedʒtəbəlz/
plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
wheatnounUS /wiːt/
annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
at the time that
From this reading The first thing I did when I was fairly on my feet was to buy a farm.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a matter of sentiment with me.
woolnounUS /wʊl/
a fabric made from the hair of sheep
From this reading He had raised there wheat for his flour, wool for his clothing, hides for his shoes, cream for his butter, and meat and vegetables for his table.
a late time of life
From this reading All my family with the exception of my father had been farmers and even he, in his latter years, had talked wistfully of the independence of country life.
