used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
alleysnounUS /ˈæliz/
plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
ant-hill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
blossomverbUS /ˈblɑːsəm/
produce or yield flowers
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
congeriesnounUS /ˈkɔːŋdʒəriːz/
a sum total of many heterogenous things taken together
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
crestedadjectiveUS /ˈkrestɪd/
bearing an heraldic device
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
crestsnounUS /krests/
plural of “crest” — the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
curvingadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrvɪŋ/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
emeraldnounUS /ˈemrəld/
a green transparent form of beryl; highly valued as a gemstone
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
the organ of sight
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
yet to be or coming
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
coins made of gold
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
guerdonnoun
a reward or payment
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE VILLAGE.
the act of departing
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
legacynounUS /ˈleɡəsi/
(law) a gift of personal property by will
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
mustardnounUS /ˈmʌstərd/
any of several cruciferous plants of the genus Brassica
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
rainsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
except for; apart from
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE VILLAGE.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading IN THE VILLAGE.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
wheatnounUS /wiːt/
annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading But in the center, whence the eye looked, stood a human ant-hill; for the congeries of mud alleys, mud walls, mud roofs, forming the village, looked from a little distance like nothing else.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
wind-swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The winter rains had come and gone, leaving a legacy of gold behind them.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Far and near, wide as the eye could reach, there was nothing to be seen save this--a waving sea of green wheat crested by yellow mustard.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Promise of future gold in the emerald sea of young wheat, guerdon of present gold in the mustard blossom curving on the green, like the crests of waves curving upon a wind-swept northern sea.
