used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
accordancenounUS /əˈkɔːrdəns/
concurrence of opinion
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
brooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
bushelnounUS /ˈbʊʃəl/
a United States dry measure equal to 4 pecks or 2152.42 cubic inches
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
rid of obstructions
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
CLUEnounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
the act of departing
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
harvestnounUS /ˈhɑːrvəst/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
joltingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊltɪŋ/
causing or characterized by jolts and irregular movements
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
loadsnounUS /loʊdz/
a large number or amount
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
the force of workers available
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
not any; not one
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
PrescottnounUS /ˈpreskɑːt/
a town in central Arizona
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
ranksnounUS /ræŋks/
plural of “rank” — a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
rustlingnounUS /ˈrʌslɪŋ/
the stealing of cattle
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
sheavesnounUS /ʃiːvz/
plural of “sheaf” — a package of several things tied together for carrying or storing
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
not in physical motion
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
stooks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
strippedadjectiveUS /strɪpt/
having only essential or minimal features
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
stubblenounUS /ˈstʌbəl/
material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
teamsnounUS /tiːmz/
plural of “team” — a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
thrashers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
thrashingnounUS /ˈθræʃɪŋ/
a sound defeat
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading In the background stood their big machine, pouring out a cloud of smoke that stretched in a gray trail across the prairie, and filling the air with its harsh clatter.
trotverbUS /trɑːt/
run at a moderately swift pace
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
wagonnounUS /ˈwæɡən/
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
WagonsnounUS /ˈwæɡənz/
plural of “wagon” — any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A NEW CLUE It was a clear, cool morning and Prescott was busily engaged throwing sheaves into his wagon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had finished his harvest and, in accordance with western custom, had immediately begun the thrashing.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Part of the great field was already stripped to a belt of tall stubble, though long ranks of stooks still stretched across the rest, and dusty men were hard at work among them.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Wagons rolled through the crackling straw--going slowly, piled high with rustling loads; returning light, jolting wildly, as fast as the teams could trot, for the thrashers were paid by the bushel and would brook no delay.
