adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
angelsnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəlz/
plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
bringingnounUS /ˈbrɪŋɪŋ/
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Not a day or a night passed without bringing proof of that.
brownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
cacklingverbUS /ˈkækəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “cackle” — talk or utter in a cackling manner
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
clamorousadjective
conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
contentnounUS /ˈkɑːntent/
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Not a day or a night passed without bringing proof of that.
doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading One end of the barn was portioned off for poultry.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
haynounUS /heɪ/
grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
hensnounUS /henz/
plural of “hen” — adult female chicken
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
IndiansnounUS /ˈɪndiənz/
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
luxuriantadjectiveUS /ləɡˈʒɜːriənt/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Not a day or a night passed without bringing proof of that.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a day or a night passed without bringing proof of that.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading One end of the barn was portioned off for poultry.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One end of the barn was portioned off for poultry.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Not a day or a night passed without bringing proof of that.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Not a day or a night passed without bringing proof of that.
plentynounUS /ˈplenti/
a full supply
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
portioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One end of the barn was portioned off for poultry.
poultrynounUS /ˈpoʊltri/
a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl
From this reading One end of the barn was portioned off for poultry.
proofnounUS /pruːf/
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading Not a day or a night passed without bringing proof of that.
roofnounUS /ruːf/
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
sleptverbUS /slept/
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
speedilyadverbUS /ˈspiːdəli/
with speed
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not a day or a night passed without bringing proof of that.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One end of the barn was portioned off for poultry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading They were more than content, for now, on the edge of the wilderness, they were very close to wild life.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs, with blankets, plenty of hay, and a roof.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Not a day or a night passed without bringing proof of that.
workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading In this the working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty, which, on that first night of the “brown angels' visit,” consisted of silent slumber, when all at once the hens and the new hands were aroused by a clamorous cackling, which speedily stopped.
