used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
applenounUS /ˈæpəl/
fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading FOUND AT LAST.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
next to; at the side of
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Ha’ Bright!
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
cartnounUS /kɑːrt/
a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
deliberateadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪbərət/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
set up or found
From this reading FOUND AT LAST.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day
From this reading Ha’ Bright!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
half-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
HawnounUS /hɔː/
a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
to a considerable degree
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
ladenadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdən/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
immediately past
From this reading FOUND AT LAST.
low-lyingadjective
having a small elevation above the ground or horizon or sea level
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
meadow-land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
mownadjective
(used of grass or vegetation) cut down with a hand implement or machine
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
oxennounUS /ˈɑːksən/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
pearnounUS /per/
sweet juicy gritty-textured fruit available in many varieties
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
Percival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
ploddedverbUS /ˈplɑːdɪd/
inflected form of “plod” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
potatoesnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊz/
plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
proppedverbUS /prɑːpt/
inflected form of “prop” — support by placing against something solid or rigid
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
Ruel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
superintending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Percival had spent a busy half-day in the open air, superintending matters on his farm.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
Tim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
trampedverbUS /træmpt/
past form of “tramp” — travel on foot, especially on a walking expedition
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
urgingnounUS /ˈɜːrdʒɪŋ/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were early potatoes to be dug, heavily laden branches of apple and pear trees to be propped up, and a small, low-lying piece of meadow-land to be mown.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
in the company of; together with
From this reading Slowly the deliberate oxen had plodded to and fro, with the heavy cart creaking and thumping behind them; while Tim or Ruel tramped beside, urging them on with an occasional “Haw!
