used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading A few threads of canvas on the door post told the story of the trap the animal had walked into.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading A few threads of canvas on the door post told the story of the trap the animal had walked into.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
at any time
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
enclose with a fence
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few threads of canvas on the door post told the story of the trap the animal had walked into.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
foddernounUS /ˈfɑːdər/
soldiers who are regarded as expendable in the face of artillery fire
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
set up or found
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
gladsomeadjective
experiencing or expressing gladness or joy
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
hingenounUS /hɪndʒ/
a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
infirmitynounUS /ɪnˈfɜːrmɪti/
the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
loneadjectiveUS /loʊn/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
nickering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
on one occasion
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
arrange in a container
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
pickingsnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋz/
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading A few threads of canvas on the door post told the story of the trap the animal had walked into.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
established beyond doubt
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
shacknounUS /ʃæk/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
get rid of
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
squeezedverbUS /skwiːzd/
past form of “squeeze” — to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
stacknounUS /stæk/
an orderly pile
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
starvingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrvɪŋ/
suffering from lack of food
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading A few threads of canvas on the door post told the story of the trap the animal had walked into.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
confined on all sides
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
believed likely
From this reading As he suspected, he found the place deserted, and the stack proved to be fodder of some description surrounded by a strong fence.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
threadsnounUS /θredz/
informal terms for clothing
From this reading A few threads of canvas on the door post told the story of the trap the animal had walked into.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading A few threads of canvas on the door post told the story of the trap the animal had walked into.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading A few threads of canvas on the door post told the story of the trap the animal had walked into.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading A few threads of canvas on the door post told the story of the trap the animal had walked into.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
in or at the place that
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
whinnying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shed, which had a small door hanging on one hinge and about half open, was as dark as a cellar and, as he stepped inside, the nose of his lost horse was fairly pushed into his face, and but for his infirmity he could have heard the most gladsome nickering and whinnying to which a lone hungry horse ever gave tongue.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Looking for food and shelter, he had squeezed through the half open door, but, once inside, the wide pack striking it on one side and the door post on the other, held him a prisoner.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But it was less than half a mile at the most from the camp to the shack, and he was sure he could work the sheep to the field where there would be some pickings that would keep them from starving.
